Sept. 28, 2023

The Ride To The Rink: The Art and Science of Selecting and Caring for Your Stick

Show Notes
Transcript

Ever wondered why you can't seem to nail that slapshot? Or why your stick handling leaves much to be desired? It could be down to the stick you're using. Mike illuminates the often overlooked, yet crucial world of hockey sticks. From the size and flex to the tape job, he shares demonstrate how the right stick can greatly enhance your performance on the ice and emphasizes that consistency and familiarity with your equipment is key, on and off the ice.

We also look into the necessity of taking care of your sticks - comparing it to maintaining your blades and ensuring your helmet is safe. From the significance of a fresh tape job to keeping your grip in good condition, you want to make sure you're ready to go when its time to hit the ice.

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00:00:08.172 --> 00:00:16.250
I just wanted to really talk mostly to the players, but obviously if your parents are with you right now, it'd be a good time for them to listen to.

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And what today I want to talk about is sticks.

00:00:18.827 --> 00:00:20.324
This has been a.

00:00:20.324 --> 00:00:20.846
This is.

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I've seen, at the beginning of the year now, the changes in sizes, the changes in the season.

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It's a new year.

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When you come to practice or games you have to get in the habit of having at least two sticks.

00:00:33.151 --> 00:00:36.648
If you're going to a tournament weekend, maybe three sticks, depending on what age you're at.

00:00:36.648 --> 00:00:39.667
If you're eight, you 10, you you're probably not going to break your stick.

00:00:39.667 --> 00:00:41.506
What sticks do they break indoors?

00:00:41.506 --> 00:00:49.529
You know they break when you're playing out in the, out in the hallways and just, and you might lose one or it's going to get one stolen or something.

00:00:49.529 --> 00:00:51.005
So just make sure you have a couple of sticks.

00:00:51.005 --> 00:00:52.689
And a couple of things about sticks.

00:00:52.689 --> 00:01:04.992
So one of the pet peeves I have is always hearing from players when I ask them why one stick is one length than the other stick is another length and one stick is taped this way and one stick is taped that way.

00:01:04.992 --> 00:01:08.316
Is that this is my practice stick and this is my game stick.

00:01:08.316 --> 00:01:19.417
So what we want to do is we want to get in the habit of having our two sticks, whatever they are pattern, the type of stick, it is the brand, it is the flex, it is.

00:01:19.417 --> 00:01:22.126
Find your stick that you like, stick with it.

00:01:22.126 --> 00:01:23.349
Have two of those.

00:01:23.349 --> 00:01:30.971
So you want to double up or triple up, depending on your age level, on the type of stick you're going to have, have the same tape job, have the same grip.

00:01:30.971 --> 00:01:35.409
So if I can interchange them at any time and practice or games, I can pull that stick out.

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Here's your stick.

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This is your game stick is your practice stick.

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Your practice stick is your game stick.

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So you know, find the grip and you know.

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And then you can experiment between those two If you like, one with one kind of grip and one with another kind of grip.

00:01:47.557 --> 00:01:55.489
You know, this isn't lacrosse where we can take a, have a face off stick, face off, run to the run to the sidelines, grab your you know attack stick and go.

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This is, you know, we're in a sport right now where the stick you're going to be using in practice is the stick you're going to be using in the game and the only way to be competent in shooting and passing and your angling and all you know just the comfort level of being a hockey player is to have two sticks double up on the same exact stick.

00:02:13.203 --> 00:02:15.109
Keep your sticks in good shape.

00:02:15.109 --> 00:02:16.284
I mean, take care of your sticks.

00:02:16.284 --> 00:02:20.088
It's like we talked about maintaining blades and making sure your helmets are tightened.

00:02:20.088 --> 00:02:21.331
Same thing with your sticks.

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Make sure.

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You know.

00:02:22.323 --> 00:02:33.911
I love and one of the one of the things I like to do, especially in the winter, is ask the players to untape their sticks after games or at least untape them, you know, when they get home and then you know that's a routine for you.

00:02:33.911 --> 00:02:35.288
Tape your stick in the locker room.

00:02:35.288 --> 00:02:37.905
Tape your stick before the game when you're getting ready to get your headphones on.

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Just getting a good habit of taping your stick and being ready and keeping that tape job fresh and in good, in good condition.

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Same thing with your grip.

00:02:45.223 --> 00:03:06.028
Tape right the top hand tape you want to have fresh, because if it's wet and it's moldy and it's ripping, it's going to affect your, the way you hold your stick, it's going to affect your grip, obviously it's going to affect your, the quality of your gloves and again, it's just just one of those little things that you can do as a player to help you focus and, honestly, it lets a coach know that you're prepared.

00:03:06.028 --> 00:03:07.063
You come in with two sticks.

00:03:07.063 --> 00:03:09.364
They're both taped, they're both the same stick.

00:03:09.364 --> 00:03:14.048
Little things that would do with the youth levels that put make sure your name's on the stick.

00:03:14.048 --> 00:03:15.572
Does that have anything fancy?

00:03:15.572 --> 00:03:18.650
Could you just use a label maker, get your name on there and your number on there?

00:03:18.650 --> 00:03:23.825
If it gets lost or somebody misplaces it or somebody leaves it on the bench or in the locker room, you can easily find it.

00:03:23.825 --> 00:03:30.251
And I think the last thing really is you know you don't need to go for the highest end stick.

00:03:30.251 --> 00:03:31.653
I'm a big high end stick guy.

00:03:31.653 --> 00:03:33.585
I work with a lot of high end stick companies.

00:03:33.585 --> 00:03:42.325
But I think at the youth level or any level when you're experimenting in sticks, it's really more important to get the right feel and the right flex and then you can upgrade.

00:03:42.325 --> 00:03:48.129
You know, from there, you know you can always start at the youth level with like just a mid curve, nothing crazy.

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Just have a stick that's comfortable, that your, that your player can grow with.

00:03:51.908 --> 00:03:59.406
And if you know your player is growing at a rapid rate, maybe don't get them the $350, you know 300 grain stick.

00:03:59.406 --> 00:04:02.849
You want to get them something that you know is a midline.

00:04:02.849 --> 00:04:03.219
I can.

00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:11.445
I can almost guarantee you that 95% of the players won't tell the difference between differences in grains on sticks and weight.

00:04:11.445 --> 00:04:18.324
So the time you add the weight, anyway, when you add, you know, a butt end on there anyway and a tape job so no.

00:04:18.324 --> 00:04:23.886
Or if your tape job is wet and it's weighing your stick down anyway, it's going to diminish the quality of stick.

00:04:23.886 --> 00:04:28.889
So again, find, find a pattern you like, find the height you like.

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Find a tape job you like.

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Find the brand and the flex and the curve, find all those things you like.

00:04:35.949 --> 00:04:46.348
Double that up, make your game stick, your practice stick and your practice stick, your game stick and really, just, you know, give your sticks a little love and when you get to the rink you'll be prepared to play.

00:04:46.348 --> 00:04:50.884
Your coach is going to appreciate the fact that you're ready for practices and games at the same level.

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Hope that helps and hope to see some of you guys with brand new, brand new twigs around the rinks.