Author: Chris Pauly

Whether it’s a booming slapshot from the point or a slick deke on a breakaway, the hockey stick is at the heart of the game and its construction is more complex than it may seem.

Modern hockey organizations, from NHL teams to junior clubs, often rely on partnerships with major stick manufacturers like CCM, Bauer and TRUE Hockey. These companies produce customized sticks designed to match each player’s unique preferences from flex and kick point to blade curve and grip texture.

“Each stick is basically an extension of the player’s body,” said Craig Desjardins, vice-president of product innovation at Bauer Hockey. “The wrong stick can throw off everything, shot accuracy, release time, even comfort on the ice.”

While wooden sticks still have a nostalgic place in hockey history, they’ve largely been replaced by composite models. Most sticks today are made from layers of carbon fibre and resin, built for strength, flexibility and lightness.

The process starts with sheets of carbon fibre laid in specific patterns to control flex. These sheets are wrapped around a mould, forming the shaft, before being combined with the blade and cured in a high-temperature oven. Bauer applies its signature finishes: tactile grips, blade textures, and graphics that vary by model and player preference.

“Depending on the stick’s flex rating, we’ll adjust how many layers of carbon go into the shaft and how tightly they’re woven,” said Riaz Miller, an employee at Bauer Hockey. “That controls the energy transfer during a shot.”

Walking into the arena, it feels like any other hockey game — cold air, the sound of skates on fresh ice, the anticipation building in the stands. But as the puck drops, something unique happens.

Instead of the sharp clack of a traditional puck, the game opens with a rattling clang-clang, a hollow metallic sound that echoes through the rink.

The Canadian Blind Hockey Association (CBHA) is changing the game for athletes who are blind or partially sighted, offering a chance to play Canada’s sport in an inclusive competitive environment.

”Blind hockey is about more than just the game  It’s about the community confidence and breaking barriers. We’re creating opportunities for players of all skill levels to experience the sport in a way that suits their ability.” said Matt Morrow, executive director of the CBHA.

Founded to promote and develop blind hockey across the country, the CBHA runs a variety of programs, from introductory “Try Blind Hockey” sessions to the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament, which has grown to be the largest event of its kind. In 2025, a record 190 players participated across seven divisions.

Blind hockey is adapted for athletes with varying degrees of vision loss, from approximately 10% vision to complete blindness. The sport utilizes an adapted puck that is larger than a standard puck and emits noise, allowing players to track its movement.

“The sound of the puck rattling down the ice, it becomes our heartbeat. It’s not just a noise, it’s direction, it’s energy, and it tells every player you’re in the game.” said Mel Carrey, the marketing manager at CBHA.

To maintain fairness, teams must have at least one completely blind player on the ice at all times. Goalies are required to be fully blind or have minimal vision, and passing rules ensure that players rely on teamwork rather than individual breakaways. Nets are slightly smaller than those in traditional hockey, and officials blow a whistle to signal when the puck is in the offensive zone to help orient players.

The CBHA has expanded programming nationwide, with regional teams in cities such as Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal.

“We’re growing, and that means more people have the chance to get on the ice,” said program director Luca DeMontis. “It’s inspiring to see how much this sport means to players and their families.”

The organization has also partnered with groups like Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) and The CNIB Foundation to support its initiatives. “We’re proving that vision loss isn’t a barrier to playing the sport we love.” DeMontis said.

The CBHA’s efforts extend beyond the rink. The organization works with schools, community groups, and rehabilitation programs to raise awareness about blind hockey and its benefits.

“ Blind hockey isn’t just about playing a sport. It’s about changing perceptions of what people with vision loss can achieve. Our players are role models showing young athletes that anything is possible.” Morrow said.

The association is also working to expand its youth and development programs, encouraging children with vision loss to take up the sport at a young age.

“The earlier they start, the more confident they become in their abilities—not just in hockey, but in life,” DeMontis added.

As the CBHA continues to grow, they hope to keep expanding the game and improving player development, and ensuring that blind and partially sighted individuals have the opportunity to experience the game.

“ We’ve seen incredible growth in the last few years, from small community rinks to national tournaments. Every new city we launch a program means more kids discovering that they can be long on ice.” Carrey said.

With its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, the CBHA continues to make hockey a game for all, ensuring that every athlete regardless of vision can hear the puck, feel the ice and experience the thrill of the game.

Finding the right hockey stick for players can make a significant difference in their performance  and overall enjoyment of the game.

With a wide variety of options available, parents should consider several key factors, stick size, flex curve, material, and price before making a purchase. Experts and industry professionals emphasize the importance of selecting a stick that matches a young player’s skill level, playing style, and physical strength. 

A properly sized hockey stick allows for better puck control, passing accuracy, and shooting power.

“A good rule of thumb is to have the stick reach the player’s nose when they’re in socks and their chin when they’re in skates. If the stick is too long, it can be difficult to handle. If it’s too short, it can limit reach and power.” said Mary-Christine Nasr Director of Finance Operations from CCM Hockey.

Younger players tend to grow quickly, so some parents opt for a slightly longer stick and cut it down as needed. However, cutting a stick affects its flex, making it stiffer, which can impact performance.

The flexibility, or “flex,” of a hockey stick determines how much it bends when force is applied. A lower flex rating makes it easier for younger players to flex the stick, helping them generate more power in their shots.

If a player struggles to get power in their shots, they may need a lower flex. If they feel the stick is too soft a higher flex might be better.

The blade’s curve affects puck control, passing, and shooting. Different curves can help with lifting the puck, stickhandling, or slap shots.

“ The choice of a player’s curve depends on a player’s position and style.” said Peter Walsh an equipment specialist at Hockeystickman, a Canadian company that offers pro stock and costume blackout sticks.

Hockey sticks vary widely in price, from entry-level sticks under $100 to high-end models costing over $400.

Canadian companies like HockeyStickMan offer high-quality “blackout sticks” sticks without branding that provide pro-level performance at a lower cost.

For families looking for customized options, Custom Hockey Sticks allows players to personalize their stick’s height, flex, and curve.

For many parents, finding the right stick is about balancing cost and quality while ensuring their child is comfortable on the ice.

“It’s tough because kids grow so fast, and sticks aren’t cheap,” said Mark Reynolds, whose 10-year-old son plays rep hockey in Toronto. “We try to find something that gives him the right flex and curve without breaking the bank.”

Experts recommend letting kids try out different sticks before making a final decision. Many hockey stores allow players to test flex and blade curves before purchasing.

“The right stick can help a young player develop their skills with confidence,” said Walsh. “Taking the time to find the right fit is worth it.”

By considering size, flex, curve, materials, and budget, parents can help their child find a hockey stick that enhances their game and fosters their love of the sport. 

When my female hockey player takes the ice, I see the joy on her face. She’s happy to be there.

Happy to be with her friends, to enjoy her favorite sport.

But at 14, up until recently, there weren’t many opportunities to go on playing once she ages out of minor hockey. Now with the initiation of the PWHL, there is a glimpse of light.

The inaugural PWHL draft took place in September 2023. The soft glow of hope started to grow. The first game on January 1, 2024, between teams Toronto and New York set a record and not just as the first game played in the PWHL. The game played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, sold out with a record-breaking attendance of 19,285 people.

This game marked a turning point for women’s hockey. To my daughter and her peers, league represents so many things.

The league holds a groundbreaking position to grow talent and elevate the overall appeal of women’s hockey. Young girls growing up with dreams of playing professional hockey can now chase them. They get to watch people who look like them be recognized on a national level. The glass ceiling that held that dream down has been broken.

In a survey conducted with 1,500 Canadian adults from January 4 to 9, 2024 by Abacus data, 35% of Canadians see the PWHL inspiring a new generation of female athletes, while 30% recognize its role in creating opportunities for young players, and 24% believe it can enhance the visibility and popularity of women’s hockey. 

For many Canadians the league allows them to see women playing the sport on a regular basis. Before now, chances to see the women’s game were limited to Olympics or the World Junior competitions.

To now be able to watch them on television or, even better, in person, gives so much more merit to the quality of the women’s game.  

But it’s not just about having more access to see the sport. The PWHL is a solid product. Its inaugural season has seen sellout crowds. The game is fast, exciting and gritty. If anyone ever tells you the girl’s game isn’t rough because it doesn’t have checking, then they need to see these ladies play.

They take to the ice in full make-up and then get in the corners and put pressure against the boards. They score with finesse. They play hard, they play to win, using stick handling skills built on years of practice honing their sport.

The PWHL also provides a chance for our girls to see additional sides of leadership from women that reflect the way women often lead in organizations. Every household leader (aka mom) knows that getting their team to the rink on time requires them picking up the small pieces such as checking bags for equipment and fueling their athlete with snacks.

In organizations, women don’t just lead from in front but rather by lifting others up. They succeed by getting the little things done, even when people aren’t watching. Have you noticed…the players of the PWHL pick up their own pucks after warm-up, something you would never see at an NHL game.

In all aspects of the league, women lead the charge. Most of the support staff ensuring player success are female. Media staff and on ice staff and officials are also predominately female. While there is no mandate or requirement for women to fill these roles, the opportunity for increased visibility is evident, and being fulfilled.  

While it is so positive to see the many smiling girls at these PWHL games watching women excel and broadening their view of the possible, I also have one big fear. As an overall demographic, women tend to watch hockey less than their male counterparts. Young boys grow up watching their hockey heroes.

Young girls who haven’t had the opportunity to watch much of their female hockey heroes until now, need to start watching.

Let’s face it, television viewership, fans and commercial sponsorship are what make the NHL so successful. Without a solid fan base and viewership, one must question if the league will be feasible in the long term. 

For now, though, the PWHL is on solid ice. Hockey fans love it. Next year with the excitement of the draft, team names and logos and the merchandise that follows we can see how the league’s popularity grows…and with it our daughters.

Seaside Hockey is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for youth in the Greater Toronto Area to receive quality instruction, professional coaching, and gain skills in a hockey-based mentorship program.

The vision is to aid visible minority youths in Toronto area communities to play hockey by removing financial barriers. It is also a safe inclusive environment for youths with their families to enjoy hockey while delivering quality instruction.

Seaside got their name from the Africville Sea-sides, who played in The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (CHL). This league was an all-Black men’s league founded in 1895 by Black Baptists and Black intellectuals in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The current founders wanted to use Seaside as a tribute to the Colored Hockey League in Nova Scotia.

The league was intended to attract young Black men to Sunday worship with the intention of a hockey game between rival churches after the services.

It was also former to teach teamwork and sportsmanship in an atmosphere of fun and positive reinforcement.

Kirk Brooks, one of the founders of Seaside Hockey, explains more about the organization

“Seaside Hockey was started three years ago, and the main mission was to make hockey more affordable,” Brooks said. “Also, we wanted to introduce hockey to new Canadians, new individuals, our motto is new to the game and new to the sport.”

Brooks says Seaside Hockey, which has sponsors like the Black Hockey Federation, Scotiabank,  407ETR and the GTHL, stresses the fundamentals to new players, especially skating.

“When a child enters the program, we ask them ‘Do you want to skate,’ ” Brooks said. “Once they learn to skate, we add hockey equipment like a stick, then quickly as possible we have them doing power skating drills, stick handling drills, puck handling drills, but were big believers on development.”

Playing minor hockey can have a fun experience and players often make new friendships along the way. It is also very much a family sport.

“I’m from Canada, I played hockey since I was about 13 years old,” Brooks said. “I played in a league for a bit, my son Nathaniel is a developmental coach for the Arizona Coyotes, my daughter Nyla is a skating instructor, my son Xavier still plays hockey, those are some of the reasons why I played the game because I am a hockey dude through and through.”

A few NHLers have worked with Brooks before such as Wayne Simmonds, Devante Smith-Pelly, Trevor Daley, and the Subban family.

To join Seaside Hockey, you can visit www.seasidehockey.ca and fill out the preregister form.