During the hockey season, we have some routines to follow when it comes to our kids' equipment. We make sure the skates are sharpened every few weeks. We air out the equipment and wash some of it every now and then. We repair rips and tears in pants and socks. But when was the last time you paid some attention to their stick?
Is the stick too small thanks to a recent growth spurt? Does the blade need some fresh tape? Is the 'Flex' in the stick all wrong and you don't even know it?
Now that we're a couple of months into the season, let's review some general guidelines in an effort to put a couple of extra goals in the hands of your young hockey star.
Sizing
If a stick is too long or too short, it usually has a negative impact on the way your child plays hockey. So with that in mind, take a moment to check the current length of their stick.
The general rule of thumb is the end of the stick should be up to the nose when standing straight without skates. That means the stick will be somewhere around the chin when they're on the ice.
Flex
These days, most 1-piece or composite sticks have a 'Flex Factor' to help determine how much the shaft will bend while taking a shot. A typical Flex number for a junior player is 45 while a typical flex number for a senior player is 110. (The higher number represents more stiffness which should result in a harder shot.)
Personally, I think the Flex is more important to kids playing in bantam or midget because they've developed a real slapshot. Younger, junior players should not be playing with a high flex number.
If you're not sure what Flex will work best for your child, ask the salesperson for his or her advice. If they work in the hockey department, they should know what Flex will work best for the future 'Al MacInnes' in your family.
Tape
Tape is added to the blade of the stick so the puck 'sticks' to the stick more than it does on a bare blade. Fresh tape should be applied every few games or so, especially if the current tape job looks bruised and battered. (There's also no better way to get pumped-up for the game than taping your stick in the dressing room!)
Tape is added to the end of the stick to create an area for your glove to grip the stick and to build a knob. The knob helps keep the stick in your hand, especially when you poke-check another player, and it helps you grab the stick off the ice when you drop it.
If you're superstitious, go with the black tape. A lot of players think it's tougher for the goalie to see the black puck against the black tape.
And if you're new to hockey and you're not sure how to tape a stick, no problem! You can head to your local sports store and they'll provide you with simple, do-it-yourself instructions.
Or you can ask someone to help you at your next game or practice. I guarantee you'll have an army of parents more than happy to show-off their unique Canadian talent.
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