Jacques Plante’s is the one who always gets credit for the goalie mask. There is even a charming Heritage Minute in which Mr. Plante, having been badly cut by a slap shot, tells his coach he won’t go back out onto the ice without the strange-looking mask he’d been wearing in practices. Mr. Plante’s insistence that he be allowed to wear it – despite the protestations of Montreal Canadiens coach Toe Blake – not only changed goaltending, it changed the game of hockey. To the modern fan, they bear a close resemblance to Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s mask in “Silence of the…
A Look at Regulations, Terms, Equipment and How the Game Works Ice hockey, one of the worlds fastest paced and most exciting games that marries speed, agility, skill (and how can we say, fighting?) is easy to follow once you have a basic understanding of the basic rules, terminology, equipment and practices. If you’re new to the game, also read up on our Top tips for New Hockey Players. Playing Surface The sheet of ice and room the ice is in is commonly known as the rink. The ice is divided into zones by a red line at centre ice…
Whether you’re 5 or 50, maybe you’ve got some gear, and maybe you’ve read some things online and watched a few of How to Hockey’s YouTube video’s – here’s a quick 10 point tips and a in-depth Guide to help you, or your child, to get started at playing ice hockey Equipment – What you should and shouldn’t do As with any new sport or interest, don’t buy gear. Wait, wait until you fall in love with the game then buy used gear until you know what you like, and what you want. Many people have gear sitting in their garages…
When he bought an ancient stick with a curved blade for $1,000 in 2008 from a barber in North Sydney, N.S., Mark Presley had no idea he’d acquired the world’s oldest hockey stick. He wasn’t even certain the object was a hockey stick. “But it was interesting and it was different,” Presley said Friday at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. “It really was almost a curiosity. I didn’t expect much beyond that.” The museum announced Friday it had acquired the ‘Moffatt stick’ from Presley for $300,000. Research has established that a member of the Moffatt family handcrafted it…
Their stick is an important piece of equipment for a hockey player. It’s just as important to the player as their skates. Most people would agree that the biggest change in hockey equipment has been the continual development of the hockey stick. Hockey sticks were made of hardwood trees in the 19th century. They were solid wood and this made them extremely heavy. Again, the weight of the hockey equipment had a direct impact on the speed and ability of the players to play the hockey game. Science intervened in the design and production of hockey sticks. Many hockey players…
So which stick flex is right for you? There is a general formula for determining your flex. This is calculated by dividing your body weight in half. If you weigh 170 pounds, (77 Kilos for us Canadians), you should use around an 85 flex. An 85 flex stick requires 85 pounds of force to bend the stick 1 inch with a full length stick. Seems simple enough, right? However, hockey is a game of preference so, just because you weigh 170 does not mean that you must use an 85 flex. You may find that the 85 is too stiff…
In the professional hockey world, sticks are a bit like the fingerprints of the players- not two are exactly the same. Different bodies and a range of personal preferences and various on-ice roles determine the need for different characteristics. There’s flex, lie, curve, grip, tape, length, weight and more to consider. But some players… some players are really out there. When a guy drops his stick on the ice and skates by the bench to grab another, there’s a few dudes who’ve been told “don’t give them your stick, nobody wants it!” Below are five guys on that list. 1. Phil…
WARNING Doing this could permanently damage your stick, you’re on your own and we’re not liable if it doesn’t work for you! For most hockey players, choosing the proper stick is a personal decision. Selecting the right height, weight and flexibility can be the difference between a game-winning goal and missing the net completely. One of the most important factors when choosing a hockey stick is the curve of its blade. This curve essentially forms a pocket that cradles the puck, allowing it to be carried, passed or shot more easily. By changing the curve of the blade, you can…
Your curve can make or break your game, it can be a continual process to tweak your curve and flex to fit your style, and your style to your flex and curve. Sometimes, though, your stick breaks and is not made any more.. Or you’ve found a great deal, but it’s made by a different manufacturer. How do you know which curve is similar to the one you’re using? We’ve put together this table of similar patterns helping you understand the different curves on the market and which curves from different hockey stick manufactures are similar Pictures Description Brand Specifications…