Talent can only take a hockey player so far — and although many factors affect how the game is played, the hockey stick is one of the pivotal variables.
Sticks can be either wood, two-piece composites, wood-fiberglass mix or the new one-piece composite.
The newest line of hockey sticks has given players an advantage, according to both players and coaches.
“I played with a wood stick all my life,” Ohio State men’s hockey coach John Markell said. “I didn’t like the fiberglass ones, and now I play with a fiber stick and I can’t go back. It feels too good. I live by my hands and feet, and I definitely think there’s a difference.”
Some experts believe the stick adds an extra 10 mph on shots.
Breaking down the sticks
Since the one-piece composites’ introduction to the hockey world, more players have switched to it. Some examples of the new sticks are the CCM Vector 110, the Easton Synergy and the TPS Response. Other companies make composites, but they have not been as popular.
Each stick, which varies in several ways, gives the company its unique product. The sticks are manufactured from numerous materials, which provide strength, flex and a lightweight feel. A one-piece composite costs around $150.
Flex, which is the bend in the stick, can range from 85 (the most flex), to a 120 (the stiffest). Most players choose a measure somewhere in between, most commonly 110.
“A stiffer shaft may be better for slap shots,” said Pat O’Neill, the equipment manager for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, in his second issue of “From the Locker Room,” an article appearing on the Canucks’ Web site. “A more flexible shaft is better for wrist (or) snap shots.”
While every company claims it has the best stick, the Easton Synergy seems to be the most popular. The mixture of materials in the Synergy ranges from graphite to Kevlar, the same component used in bulletproof vests. Easton incorporates its GRIP technology, a rubber-like coating on the outside of some of its sticks for increased control while holding the stick.
“I would say the Easton Synergy is the best one right now,” said Ryan Jestadt, a former OSU player and the Ohio State Ice Rink Pro Shop assistant manager. “There are so many more to choose from than there (were) in the past. From the standpoint of the first ones to make (one-pieces), Easton is a good stick to use.”
The Synergy is used by six of the OSU men’s hockey team players.
“I can definitely shoot the puck harder,” OSU center R.J. Umberger said. “I like the feel of them better.”
The TPS Response, made by Louisville, is another one-piece composite stick.
“The blades (curved end of the stick) on the Louisville and Synergy are filled with a foam, and sometimes they can collapse on a hard slap shot,” said Brandon Lee, a Hockey Stop employee and recreational hockey player.
The Hockey Stop, a store located at 1512 Bethel Rd., sells a variety of hockey equipment, including the one-piece composite sticks.
Five OSU players have chosen to use the Response this year.
“The Response is the newest technology, and I notice that I can shoot the puck harder,” OSU defenseman and captain Scott Titus said.
Another aspect of Louisville’s equipment which appeals to players is the custom feature.
“Louisville will do custom curves,” said Tim Adams, OSU men’s hockey equipment manager. “Say (the players) want to use a one-piece. They find the blade they want, and we send it to them, and they make it.”
Canada-based CCM also manufactures a stick — the Vector 110. CCM developed its newest stick after the Synergy and Response. CCM also claims the Vector 110, made from different materials of other sticks, produces the highest puck velocity.
Dangers of one-piece
Not everyone is happy with the newest hockey stick technology.
Some goaltenders do not like the new sticks because of the shot’s power, which causes decreased reaction time and sometimes injury.
“You have to be ready,” Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender Marc Denis said. “Not only are the top guys going to get some good shots, but everybody on their team.”
Some want the sticks banned.
“I don’t think they should be legal,” Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo told Florida’s Sun-Sentinel. “We’ve got rules for goalies, so they should have rules for players. They want to score more goals in the league, and they’re allowing it. But at the same time the shots are harder and it’s more dangerous for us to receive shots.”
Even recreational players can see the danger in the accelerated shots off of one-piece composites.
“It is comparable to an aluminum bat in baseball,” said Shane Smith, a Hockey Stop employee and recreational goalie.
However, while aluminum bats are banned in professional baseball, one-piece composites may not be deemed illegal by the NHL.
“They (the NHL) won’t ban them,” Markell said. “They have bigger things to worry about than banning hockey sticks.”
The future of the one-piece
Like all new sports technology, companies continue to develop new and improved products.
Easton is working to develop its Synergy Si-Core stick, which is used in the NHL. However, regular customers cannot buy the stick for a few months.
“It has a silicon injected into the blade to give a little bit softer feel,” Adams said. “When you accept a pass, it has a little more of a dampening effect but no loss in the velocity of your shot.”
While one-piece technology is growing in popularity, some players cling to the older sticks. After trying the one-piece stick, St. Louis Blues’ all-star defenseman Al MacInnis changed back to a wooden stick this season. MacInnis won the hardest shot competition at the NHL All-Star weekend.
