Pro Stock Hockey Blog

A Guide To Understanding Hockey Stick Curves

Posted by Matt Stathopoulos on 08 27 2024

When you’re shopping around for a new hockey stick, its curve may be one of the last things you notice. If you overlook it, however, you could be hurting your game without even knowing it. That’s because a hockey stick’s curve can have a significant impact on how you perform on the ice, and you need to k [[..]]

How To Tape A Hockey Stick

Posted by Matt Stathopoulos on 08 14 2024

If you’re new to hockey, no doubt you want to do things right. Figuring out how to tape your hockey stick can be a bit of a sticky situation. If you’re a seasoned player, you know two things when it comes to taping your hockey stick. Fresh tape enhances your performance; and you want tacky tape, not a ta [[..]]

'The Save'

Posted by Matt Stathopoulos on 06 08 2023

There aren’t a lot of similarities between Adin Hill and UnlinkTiger Woods.Hill was born in Comox, British Columbia, Canada in 1996. Woods in Cypress, California in 1975. While Hill likely golfs in the offseason, he plays hockey professionally. Woods, meanwhile, has 110 professional wins, including 82 on the [[..]]

Best Hockey Sticks: 2020-2021 Season

Posted by AJ Lee on 06 08 2021

The first thing we need to acknowledge is that the word “best” is, well, fairly subjective and usually based off personal opinions. This list isn’t about which hockey stick is the lightest, the most durable or has the “best” overall aesthetics – this list is about the facts. Our list is ranked by usage among activ [[..]]

Types of Hockey Skate Sharpening Hollows

Posted by AJ Lee on 04 29 2021

It’s a commonly overheard exchange in your rink’s pro shop… Player: “Hey, I’d like to get these sharpened.” Clerk: “Ok, how’d you like them cut?” Player: “Uhh…standard?” While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a standard cut (it’s “standard” for a reason), it's beneficial to learn the diffe [[..]]

Changes to the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery & Beyond

Posted by AJ Lee on 03 26 2021

On March 23, 2021, the NHL Board of Governors approved three rule changes to the NHL Draft Lottery system that determines the order of the NHL Draft (for those teams that did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs).The NHL Draft Lottery will now include only two drawings instead of the three drawings held in [[..]]

Hockey Stick Curve Comparison Chart

Posted by AJ Lee on 02 26 2021

When searching for a new hockey stick, finding the right curve is often top of mind. There's a lot to consider, but it's not uncommon to find yourself changing up the flex, the type of grip, experimenting with different models or even switching between brands! But once a player has settled in on a specific curv [[..]]

How Often Should You Sharpen Your Skates?

Posted by AJ Lee on 02 03 2021

It depends. OK, that’s the worst answer when it comes to almost anything. Though when referring to how often hockey skate sharpening is necessary, it’s also pretty true.Where do you play? How hard is the ice? How often do you play? How good are your skates? These are all questions to consider, [[..]]

When Does The 2020-21 NHL Season Begin? Now We Know!

Posted by AJ Lee on 12 21 2020

The NHL and the NHLPA have agreed to a 56-game regular season schedule with games set to start on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. The National Hockey League continues to stress that their priority is the health and safety of the players and communities, which makes this announcement subject to change if it is deemed [[..]]

One of Hockey’s Biggest Lies

Posted by AJ Lee on 11 18 2020

I was 24 years old when I learned about the “lie” of a hockey stick. I picked up my first stick at 3 years old, started playing organized hockey at 5 and continued playing competitively all the way through college.Never once had I heard the term.For those of you still unfamiliar (and believe me, you’re not alone), [[..]]

When Will The 2020-21 NHL Season Start?

Posted by AJ Lee on 10 20 2020

It's a weird time to be a hockey fan. It's the middle of October and instead of questions like, "Will our new rookie take the next step?" or "Did those offseason trades fill the gaps in our lineup?", a lot of hockey fans only have one question: When does the 2020-21 NHL season start?As of right now, there is no da [[..]]

The Top 5 Most Unbreakable NHL Records

Posted by AJ Lee on 09 16 2020

The National Hockey League recognizes 430 individual NHL records. These records range from feats of longevity (most seasons played) to quick flashes of brilliance (fastest hat trick) and everything in between.While all of these records are tremendous achievements, and should be acknowledged as such, there are a ce [[..]]

At Home Hockey Training

Posted by AJ Lee on 07 29 2020

At-Home Hockey Training Hockey is in a tough spot right now. The COVID-19 epidemic has forced a lot of hockey leagues to shut down and there’s no real indication on when they’ll reopen. Some are open, but with heavy restrictions on the number of players allowed in the facility and certain procedures in place [[..]]

That Time The Stanley Cup Was Canceled

Posted by AJ Lee on 07 14 2020

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how quickly things can change, it’s completely plausible that the NHL playoffs might not actually end up happening. Blasphemy, I know. But if states in the U.S. opening up early have taught us anything, it's that this isn't going away anytime soon. Training ca [[..]]

Everything You Need To Know About The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft

Posted by AJ Lee on 03 20 2020

Who will the NHL Seattle team be? Maybe the Totems, the Seals, the Sockeyes or Rainiers — or, if legendary and apparently coffee-loving sports columnist Mike Downey has anything to say about it, the Starpucks. But, more important, when the NHL comes to Seattle in 2021, who will the team include player-wise? The [[..]]

Should The NHL Allow Its Players To Play In The Olympics?

Posted by AJ Lee on 03 02 2020

Until the 2018 Games, National Hockey League players had participated in five straight Winter Olympics. When the league, squabbling with the International Olympic Committee over associated costs, pulled the plug on NHL Olympics participation in 2018, reaction was swift. Certified hockey legend Wayne Gretzky [[..]]

The Best of the Worst Hockey Equipment Gimmicks

Posted by AJ Lee on 01 24 2020

Any sport that relies on gear as much as hockey does is, every so often, going to be presented with the Next Big Thing, that latest-and-greatest innovation that will revolutionize the game — or at least your ability to play it. Of course, some of these “advances” have proven less than advantageous. Not all eq [[..]]

Stick Insight: Duncan Keith

Posted by AJ Lee on 01 03 2020

Duncan Keith, those who know him well say fondly, is a freak. Now more than 1,000 games into his Blackhawks career, the three-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman describes himself as a “biohacker” who uses infrared lights, electromagnetic mats and hydrogen inhalers in pursuit of every advantage. At Mic [[..]]

How To Become A Faster Skater

Posted by AJ Lee on 12 11 2019

Widely regarded as the fastest team sport, hockey requires speed. While a lot of coaches preach about speed with the puck, speed without it may be more important. After all, think about how often you see two players racing toward a puck compared to one skating away with it. Yes, some players naturally skate f [[..]]

How To Pick The Perfect Hockey Stick

Posted by AJ Lee on 11 21 2019

Did you ever watch one of those home rehab shows? You know, where the school teacher and the pharmacy tech are shopping for their dream house and settle for a half-million-dollar fixer-upper? Whichever home they enter, someone has something to say about the color on the walls — which is absolutely the leas [[..]]

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