Watch any National Hockey League game, and you will see a dizzying number of sticks used on the ice. They may look simple, but nothing could be further from the truth. Modern hockey sticks are as much science as art. Every hockey stick used in the NHL conforms to a player’s specific weight, curve, and flex preferences. In this article, we will discuss the types of hockey sticks, hockey stick components, NHL stick regulations, and how to choose your perfect stick.
Hockey Sticks Through the Years
Image via Flickr by Tom Purves
Over the years, hockey sticks have been made from many different materials. Here are the three main kinds of hockey sticks and how they are made.
Wood Sticks
The first commercial hockey sticks were carved from one piece of wood by the native Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia. Hockey sticks in the 1800s were hornbeam wood, aka “ironwood,” because of their high durability. Over time, hornbeam trees became harder to find, and yellow birch became the wood of choice for sticks. These one-piece hockey sticks were known as Mic-Mac sticks. The Mi’kmaq were the primary makers of hockey sticks until the process became industrialized in the 1930s. Two-piece hockey sticks with a separate blade and shaft were introduced around this time. In the 1950s, stick manufacturers started wrapping wooden sticks in woven fiberglass.
Compared to other sticks, wooden hockey sticks are heavier, cheaper, and last longer. Wooden hockey sticks are great if you are battling over a puck, but their weight has resulted in them falling out of favor with most professional hockey players.
Aluminum Sticks
Hockey sticks with an aluminum shaft became popular in the 1990s, thanks to an endorsement by Wayne Gretzky. Aluminum hockey sticks have an aluminum shaft and a wooden blade. Aluminum was favored because of its high durability and resistance to wear and warping. Aluminum sticks did not maintain their popularity after the introduction of composite hockey sticks in the early 2000s.
Composite Sticks
Composite hockey sticks are the most popular today. These hockey sticks are made from carbon fiber sheets impregnated with partially cured resin. Composite shafts are made by fusing up to 15 layers of carbon fiber sheets using epoxy resin. Sheets are laid in opposite directions for optimum strength. A variety of resins are available to hockey stick manufacturers, each with unique properties. Once the stick has cured, the shaft is coated in a durable plastic resin.
The hockey stick blade is mostly foam. Each foam core is soaked in resin and covered in carbon sheets. Epoxy foam is favored for blades because of the springy feel it gives to hockey sticks. Completed blades are placed in a mold that angles, curves, and bonds it to the shaft.
Players love composite sticks because they feel and flex like an old-fashioned wood hockey stick but are as lightweight as an aluminum stick. Professional players can also customize composite hockey sticks to their personal preferences in weight, flex, curve, and shape.
Parts of a Hockey Stick
The hockey stick is composed of the shaft and the blade. Here are some of the basic properties of each hockey stick component.
Shaft
Most NHL hockey players use sticks that have a shaft length of 63 inches or less. Players taller than 6 foot, 6 inches can use a hockey stick that is 65 inches long. Shafts can be a variety of shapes, including round, rectangular, and tapered. High-end hockey sticks used by professionals often include a variety of textures along the shaft to increase grip.
A shaft’s flexibility is directly related to the amount of force a player puts on the puck. As a general rule, forwards prefer more flexible shafts to improve their wrist shots, passing, and stick handling. Defensive players generally prefer sticks with less flexible shafts.
Blade
Per NHL regulations, a hockey stick blade must be between 2 and 12.5 inches long and no more than 3 inches high. The first hockey sticks were straight, but curving the blade became popularized by Chicago Blackhawks Stan Mikita. Mikita and teammate Bobby Hull curved their blades using hot water and door jams. Today, composite blades are curved using a mold set to a company or player’s preferences.
A curved blade can give players an edge on the ice. Curving at the toe (end) of the blade is advantageous for wrist shots and moving the puck. Many defensive players prefer a blade curved at the heel (the part closest to the shaft). A heel-curved blade helps create blistering slap shots. The maximum depth of the curve is limited in the NHL to three-fourths of an inch.
Hockey Stick Rules on the Ice
Image via Flickr by Paul L. Dineen
The NHL has several rules directly related to hockey stick measurements and conditions.
Player Stick Regulations
The National Hockey League regulates the size of player’s sticks. As noted earlier, the shaft length, curve depth, and blade length are strictly regulated to ensure fair play. Unlike the sticks of other players, the goaltender stick curvature is not restricted by the NHL.
During a game, teams can request a stick measurement if they feel a player has broken the rules. Illegal hockey sticks are confiscated, and the offending player receives a minor penalty and fine. Goalkeeper sticks are never measured when a game is in progress. Goalkeeper sticks are measured in the pre-season and throughout the season as necessary.
Broken Hockey Sticks
A broken hockey stick is any stick the referee considers unfit for safe play. Skaters must drop their hockey stick immediately after breaking it. Continuing to play with a broken hockey stick is an equipment violation, resulting in a minor penalty. Goaltenders are the only players exempt from this rule.
After dropping the broken stick, players must go to the bench for a new hockey stick or have one handed to them by a teammate. If a goaltender breaks their hockey stick, they cannot go to the bench for a replacement. A teammate must deliver a new hockey stick properly to the goaltender.
Slashing
A slashing penalty results from a player swinging their stick at an opponent. Using your hockey stick to break the stick of an opposing player will result in a two-minute penalty.
The right hockey stick can improve your puck handling, make your slap shots faster, and help you sneak in wrist shots. Whether you are a beginner or have been playing hockey for years, Gunzo’s has the equipment and expertise you need to play your best game. Visit any of our Chicago locations and let us help you find the perfect hockey stick.