A FEW IMPORTANT TIPS FOR BUYING A HOCKEY STICK
Every Canadian should know what they're looking for when buying a hockey stick.
Here is some advice:
First, invest in a good stick. It's like buying a tennis racquet, the difference between a $100 racquet and $200 racquet is significant. The same is true of a hockey stick. You can't achieve top performance with inferior equipment, especially when your shot, stickhanding, etc depend on the piece of equipment that contacts the puck.
Second, avoid sticks with blades that flare up/out at the end. The pros can use them because they play every day for hours. You can't use their oddball curves because you have a job, and can't play hockey 24/7.
Choose a simple curve like the Easton P4 also called the Zetterburg curve. It is the best for stickhanding and the puck will go where you aim it. The blade is also a bit shorter than a lot of the shovels passed off as blades. A longer blade makes stick handling more difficult and slows your release.
If you are 5'10 or under, try a stick with a lie 5. Gretzky was 5'10 and used a 5. Taller players might consider a 5.5 or 6. The flex should be about 85, which may jump to 100 if you cut your stick. Anything over 100 is probably too stiff to get the whip that powers the puck forward during a shot.
Last, buy the best stick you can afford. Look for a kevlar composite that's balanced and reasonably light. Balance is the most important, and that's normally found in more expensive sticks.
We like the Easton Synergy ST, S-19, or the new Stealth RS. Easton makes good strong sticks that are also light and balanced and have excellent power. Intertestingly, Easton also makes high-end bike forks and wheels based on the same principles - light and strong.
The ST is a great stick and available at $200. The S-19 is an outstanding stick and costs up to $300. The Stealth RS is their newest composite and also costs up to $300. All three are used by pros in the NHL.
Should you spend that much on a stick? It depends...if you take a lot of heavy slap shots and break a lot of sticks, maybe not. But many of us take wristers and snap shots...and slap shots only when there is a clear lane. Some rec games don't allow slap shots. Sticks like the ST, S-19 and Stealth RS take shots to another level. Plus, the ST, which stands for Super Tough, can take a lot of punishment.
The bottom line is a good stick will improve your hockey in the same way a good tennis racquet will improve your tennis. Sure, some skilled players can play with anything. An NHL'er can use a cheap $25 stick and kick our butts, just as Federer can use a $25 tennis racquet and kick our butts. But they can't use cheap equipment competing at their own level and neither should we when playing at our level.
That said, it's your money, your ice time, and your expectations. But if your game can't get to the next level, it may be your equipment isn't at the next level.