Charlie McAvoy: From Stiff Sticks to Customized Gear
As a teenager, Charlie McAvoy was limited to using 100 flex right-shot sticks due to budget constraints from his father. “When I got to senior sticks,” McAvoy reminisced, “he would get me 100 flex sticks so I wouldn’t break them.” This preference for a stiff stick benefited his development as a skilled hockey player. Fast forward ten years, and McAvoy, now a defenseman for the Boston Bruins and Bauer representative, has transitioned to customized Bauer Proto-R sticks designed specifically for his role as a two-way defender.
Individual Preferences Among NHL Players
McAvoy is not the only NHL player to tailor his stick to fit his playing style. Each player’s stick is uniquely suited to their specific job on the ice. For instance, a stick that works for McAvoy wouldn’t necessarily suit a penalty-killing winger. To showcase the diversity in stick choices, we look at six NHL players with varied roles and their unique equipment preferences.
The Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord emphasizes performance over endorsements, opting for a Warrior stick while using True pads and a Bauer blocker. He remarked, “You’re going to make a lot more money stopping pucks than getting an endorsement deal from a goalie company.”
Garnet Hathaway’s Three-Inch-Tall Blade Preference
Garnet Hathaway, an energy winger and penalty killer for the Philadelphia Flyers, now uses a Bauer Nexus Tracer stick with 95 flex after switching from CCM. Hathaway appreciates the height of his blade, which he believes enhances his performance during wall battles and helps to retrieve pucks effectively. “I don’t know why everyone doesn’t use it… It gives you a bigger paddle to catch passes,” he noted.
Hathaway generally uses a stick until its performance diminishes, often rotating through two or three pre-taped sticks during the season.
Wyatt Johnston: Balancing Shooting and Stickhandling
Wyatt Johnston, a center for the Dallas Stars, utilizes a Bauer Proto-R stick with 77 flex that he finds exceptionally lightweight and responsive. He focuses on accuracy and puckhandling, stating that the balance in his stick is crucial for his style of play. “You only get a couple opportunities a game to shoot…the release and feel is different,” Johnston explained.
Stick Preference and Usage among Defensemen
McAvoy prioritizes puck handling over shooting power, claiming, “I need to feel the puck.” Despite the Bruins’ encouragement to shoot more, his approach emphasizes control and feel, suggesting that a successful game often requires more handling than shooting.
Other players also express distinctive preferences. Jason Robertson sticks with the CCM Tacks XF Pro, citing an uncomplicated approach, while Kevin Rooney has returned to Warrior sticks for their durability during faceoffs.
Nikita Zadorov: Short Sticks for Speedy Play
Nikita Zadorov prefers using Warrior sticks for their flexibility and weight. He’s noted for his unique choice of a shorter stick length, which optimizes his stickhandling abilities. “I prioritize stickhandling and skill,” he mentioned, acknowledging his need for a quick game adaptation. Zadorov utilizes a new stick for each game, reflecting the demands of his physical playstyle.
This deep dive into the preferences of NHL players illustrates how individualized stick design is essential to enhancing performance and fitting the specific needs of players on the ice.
Source and credits: www.nytimes.com
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