Pro hockey players no longer use wood sticks and instead use composite sticks. These sticks are favored for their lighter weight and improved performance characteristics compared to traditional wooden sticks. Modern composite sticks offer advantages in terms of strength, flex, and shot power.
By the end of the 2000 decade, virtually all NHL players had moved away from wood hockey sticks and were using composite ones.
Below we’ll discuss why wood was used to make hockey sticks, why composite sticks are now the norm, and the benefits that each material offers hockey players whether amateur or pro. We’ll end with a list of some wood stick manufacturers and models that still exist if you’d like to choose one.
Why Wooden Hockey Sticks Were Popular For Decades
Hockey sticks were traditionally made from wood for several historical and practical reasons:
- Availability: Wood was readily available and easy to source in many regions where hockey was popular, making it a convenient choice for stick construction.
- Cost-Effective: Wood was an affordable material, making hockey accessible to a broader range of players, including those with limited financial resources.
- Customization: Wooden sticks could be easily customized by players. They could shave, sand, or curve the blade to their liking, allowing for individual preferences in stick design.
- Durability: Wood, especially hardwoods like ash and hickory, offered durability and resilience, with the ability to withstand the physical demands of the game.
- Feel and Control: Wooden sticks provided a unique feel and control over the puck due to their natural properties. Players could sense the puck’s position on the blade more intuitively.
- Nostalgia and Tradition: Wooden sticks have a long history in the sport of hockey, contributing to the sense of tradition and nostalgia associated with the game.
However, as hockey evolved, players and manufacturers began experimenting with new materials like fiberglass and, eventually, carbon fiber composites. These materials offered significant advantages in terms of weight, power, and consistency, leading to the widespread adoption of composite sticks by professional players.
While wooden sticks are less common at the highest levels of the game today, they are still used by some players who appreciate their unique characteristics and the connection to the sport’s heritage.
Benefits That Wood Hockey Sticks Offer To Players
Wooden hockey sticks were popular for many years and are still used by some players due to several advantages they offer:
- Feel for the Puck: Wooden sticks provide a unique feel for the puck, allowing players to have a strong sense of the puck’s position on their stick blade. This can aid in stickhandling and passing.
- Durability: Wooden sticks are known for their durability and longevity. They can withstand significant wear and tear, making them a cost-effective option for players who don’t want to replace sticks frequently.
- Affordability: Wooden sticks tend to be more affordable than composite sticks, making them accessible to players with budget constraints, especially at the amateur and youth levels.
- Customization: Wooden sticks can be easily cut and modified to suit a player’s preferences, including blade curvature and length.
- Nostalgia: Many players and enthusiasts appreciate the traditional and nostalgic aspect of wooden sticks, which have a long history in the sport of hockey.
- Shooting Accuracy: Some players argue that wooden sticks offer better shooting accuracy, particularly for wrist shots and snap shots.
- Improved Defensive Play: Wooden sticks are often favored by defensemen for their reliability in blocking shots and clearing the puck from the defensive zone.
While wooden sticks have these advantages, they also come with limitations, such as being heavier than modern composite sticks and having less consistent flex profiles. As a result, many professional players have transitioned to composite sticks for the benefits they provide in terms of power, weight, and consistency.
Nonetheless, wooden sticks remain a viable option for shinny players who appreciate their unique characteristics and affordability.
Many Species Of Wood Were Used To Make Hockey Sticks
Several types of wood have been commonly used to make hockey sticks over the years. Some of the most popular woods include:
- Hornbeam: Also known as Ironwood, early hockey sticks were made from this wood but due to scarcity, manufacturers soon switched to other wood species.
- Ash: Ash was a preferred choice for many years due to its combination of strength and flexibility. It provided a good balance between durability and performance.
- Hickory: Hickory was known for its exceptional durability and hardness. It made sticks that could withstand heavy use and physical play.
- Birch: Birch wood was favored for its flexibility and weight, making it suitable for players who preferred a lighter stick with good puck feel. Yellow birch was commonly used.
- Maple: Hard maple was sometimes used for hockey sticks. It offered a sturdy construction but was typically heavier than other woods.
- White Ash: White ash, a specific type of ash wood, was particularly popular for its strength and relatively lightweight properties.
- Pine: While not as common as other woods, pine was occasionally used for less expensive hockey sticks, especially for youth players.
It’s worth noting that wood selection often depended on regional availability and personal preferences. Different players had their preferred wood types based on factors like playing style and feel for the puck.
Composite Sticks Offer Numerous Advantages Over Wood
As technology improved, wood was phased out and replaced by composite sticks. Here’s a table highlighting the benefits of composite hockey sticks over traditional wooden ones, with a focus on what they offer to the hockey player:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Composite sticks are significantly lighter, allowing for quicker stickhandling and shot release. |
| Enhanced Power | The stiffness of composite materials enables more powerful shots, improving a player’s scoring ability. |
| Consistent Flex | Composite sticks offer consistent flex profiles, enhancing accuracy and control when shooting or passing. |
| Durable | Composite materials are more durable, reducing the likelihood of stick breakage during play. |
| Reduced Vibration | Better dampening properties in composite sticks minimize the stinging sensation from puck impact. |
| Customizable Kick Points | Many composite sticks allow players to choose their desired kick point for personalized performance. |
| Improved Puck Feel | The feel for the puck is enhanced with composite sticks, aiding in puck control and handling. |
| Reduced Blade Deflection | Composite blades are less likely to deflect, providing more accurate shots and passes. |
| Enhanced Stick Responsiveness | Composite sticks offer quicker response times, benefiting players in tight situations. |
| Advanced Materials | Modern composite materials are designed for optimal performance, offering a competitive edge on the ice. |
These advantages make composite hockey sticks the preferred choice for most professional and amateur hockey players, as they can elevate their game in terms of speed, power, and precision.
You Can Still Buy Wood Hockey Sticks Such As These
You can still buy wooden hockey sticks, although they are less common at the highest levels of the sport due to the widespread use of composite sticks. Wooden sticks are often preferred by some players for their unique feel and characteristics.
Here are a few brands and models that offer wooden hockey sticks:
- Sher-Wood: Sher-Wood is a well-known brand that continues to produce wooden hockey sticks. They offer various models, including the Sher-Wood 5030 Featherlite, which is a classic wooden stick with a lightweight design.
- True Hockey: True Hockey offers the A-Series line, which includes wooden sticks with advanced technologies for enhanced performance. These sticks combine the traditional feel of wood with modern features.
- CCM: CCM manufactures the Ribcor 44K, a wooden stick that combines a wooden blade with composite construction in the shaft for improved performance.
- Bauer: While Bauer primarily focuses on composite sticks, they occasionally release limited-edition wooden sticks for players who prefer the traditional feel.
- Raven Hockey: Raven Hockey specializes in wooden sticks and offers a range of models designed to provide a balance of performance and durability.
- Alkali: Alkali offers wooden sticks in their RPD line, designed for players looking for a classic feel with modern features.
Final Thoughts
Composite sticks offer several advantages over wooden sticks, which is why they have become the preferred choice for most hockey players, including those in the NHL.
Here are some of the main benefits of using composite sticks:
- Lightweight: Composite sticks are significantly lighter than wooden sticks. This reduced weight allows players to generate faster shots, quicker stickhandling, and overall improved maneuverability on the ice.
- Consistency: Composite sticks provide consistent performance characteristics, which means that each stick of the same model will have similar flex, kick point, and response. This consistency allows players to develop a more predictable and repeatable shooting and passing technique.
- Strength and Durability: Composite sticks are known for their strength and durability. They can withstand the rigors of the game, including hard shots, slashes, and impacts, without breaking or splintering like wooden sticks. This durability ensures that the stick maintains its performance over time.
- Customization: Composite sticks offer more options for customization compared to wooden sticks. Players can choose from a variety of flex options, blade patterns, and lengths to suit their playing style and preferences.
- Enhanced Performance: Composite sticks are designed to optimize performance. They often have features such as improved energy transfer, increased shot accuracy, and better puck feel. These characteristics can give players an edge in terms of shooting power, accuracy, and overall puck control.
- Reduced Vibrations: Composite sticks tend to dampen vibrations better than wooden sticks. This can provide a more comfortable feel when receiving hard passes or taking shots, reducing the impact on a player’s hands and wrists.