But which gloves are “the best”? Which are preferred by NHL players, and why? And for those of us that aren’t in the NHL, when it does it make more sense to spend on top-tier options, and when is it better to choose more affordable hockey gloves?

ProStockHockey.com is here to give you a hand.

What Makes a Hockey Glove the Best?

Three brands dominate the professional gloves market: Bauer, CCM, and Warrior. Some players opt for TRUE and Sherwood brands; while these have a more limited presence in the NHL, they maintain a foothold among players who prefer their fit and feel.

San Jose Sharks’ rising star Macklin Celebrant and Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid wear CCM Jetspeed FT1 gloves. This is the most popular CCM type in the NHL, used by 110 players. And then there are the TRUE Pro 4-Roll gloves used by just three players – Marco Rossi of the Vancouver Canucks, Vladislav Namestnikov of the Winnipeg Jets, and Dennis Gilbert of the Ottawa Senators.

While variation in the brand and type of hockey gloves used is tied to personal preference, four components separate average gloves from their good – and great – counterparts:

1. Protection in the fingers and backhand
2. Palm durability and feel
3. Weight and mobility
4. Fit and cuff design

Best Hockey Gloves by Level of Play

The best hockey gloves depend on your level of play. Players at higher levels shoot harder and faster and are on the receiving end of shots that are just as hard and fast as their own. In addition, higher-level players may be using their gloves every day or every other day, while beginners may only need to suit up once per week.

There are three broad categories of hockey gloves:

Entry-level gloves

Entry-level gloves are for beginners and amateurs. These may be young players just starting out or older players who are playing in rec leagues once a week. Entry-level and youth hockey gloves typically prioritize comfort and affordability, with less emphasis on feel and protection. Used hockey gloves are also a great option for new players who don’t need brand-new, top-of-the-line gear.

Competitive gloves

Competitive gloves emphasize reinforced padding to improve protection. They’re more expensive but last longer than their entry-level counterparts. This level of hockey protective gear is popular for teenage and young adult hockey players who play in competitive leagues and do additional training outside of their games and practices.

Pro-Style gloves

Pro-style gloves focus on durability and shot absorption. When pucks are flying in at 90+ miles per hour and scrums of players are slashing at the puck, absorption is critical to keep your hands safe.

Hockey Glove Materials Explained

The materials used in ice hockey gloves vary by category and brand. There’s no right set of materials; instead, it’s about what feels and works best for each player. When purchasing a pair of gloves, it’s worth knowing which materials are used for the exterior shell, the interior liner, and the palms.

Exterior shells are typically made of nylon or synthetic leather. Interiors contain multi-density foams such as EPP and D3O along with polyethylene (PE) inserts, which improve rigidity. Some include moisture-wicking liners for comfort and antimicrobial treatments for odor.

Hockey glove palms may be synthetic or reinforced. For example, Nash and Micronash are highly durable synthetic leather materials, while AX Suede is microfiber suede, and Digital is derived from natural leather.

Choosing the Right Glove Fit and Size

Even the best materials won’t matter if your hockey gloves don’t fit. The right fit provides enough protection that your hands are safe, while offering enough control to make small and controlled movements.

Here are three tips to help find the right fit and size.

1. Measure your hand
   

   Measure your hand from the tip of your middle finger to the base of your palm, then multiply this number by 2 to get your average glove size. For example, if your hand measures 5” from tip to base, look for a glove size 10-11.

   Check out our hockey glove sizing guide for a deeper dive.

2. Check fingers, joints, and elbows
   

   When your gloves are on, your fingers should not quite reach the end of your finger stalls, and joints should line up with the glove’s knuckle breaks. In addition, well-fit gloves should not bump or overlap your elbow pads.

3. Think snug, not tight
   

   Snug gloves provide control, while loose gloves reduce protection. Make sure you aim for snug and not tight. If your movement is restricted when wearing the gloves or if you notice pinch points, they may be too tight.

It’s worth noting that how hockey gloves feel when you first put them on differs from what they’ll feel like once you break them in. While gloves start stiff, they will loosen up the more you wear and play with them on.

You can help the break-in process along by wearing gloves during warmups or light practice, flexing your hands before each skate and gently compressing the gloves in your hands to help shape the padding. Be gentler when breaking in youth hockey gloves. They tend to be less durable than their adult counterparts, making them easier to damage.

ProStockHockey.com tip: Don’t soak, steam, or apply direct heat to your gloves. This could damage the padding, palm, and liner materials.

Lightweight vs. Durable Hockey Gloves

Do you need lightweight or durable hockey gloves? The answer depends on what you prefer and how often you play. Lightweight gloves improve mobility but sacrifice protection. More durable gloves will last longer under heavy use but are more expensive and require more effort to break in.

If you are playing once a week in a fun or casual league, lightweight hockey gloves will get the job done without breaking the bank. If you play in competitive leagues, you’re better served by durable hockey gloves.

Custom Hockey Gloves and Personalization Options

Many competitive players opt for custom hockey gloves. One reason for custom builds is individual preference; some professionals want longer or shorter cuffs, while others prefer more (or less) palm padding. Another reason for personalization is that pro-level players often rotate through multiple pairs in a single game to ensure they’re always wearing dry gloves. Personalization makes it easy to know which gloves belong to which player.

The most common personalizations found on pro-level gloves are team names and player numbers. Some players also choose to add nicknames or custom embroidery.

How to Maintain Your Hockey Gloves

Hockey gloves don’t last forever, but regular maintenance can help extend their lifespan.

First, make sure you air dry your gloves after every practice or game. Next, take steps to reduce moisture buildup. These two practices go hand-in-hand; instead of leaving your gloves in your hockey bag after practice, take them out and put them on a drying rack. Your gloves will dry faster, and you will reduce the risk of moisture that can damage materials.

It’s also worth checking your palm wear regularly. This is often the first part of a glove to fail, so better to catch it before wear and tear impacts your play.

Beginner gloves tend to last longer than their professional counterparts, despite the use of better materials in pro-level gloves. This is because pro-level players use their gloves far more often and under higher-stress conditions.

Hockey Gloves FAQs

What are the best hockey gloves for beginners?

The best hockey gloves for beginners are comfortable and affordable.

What materials are used in hockey gloves?

Common materials include nylon, synthetic leather, real leather, polyester, multi-density foam, and polyethylene.

How do I choose the right size for hockey gloves?

Start by measuring your hand in inches from the tip of your middle finger to the bottom of your palm. Then, multiply by 2 to find your glove size.

How do I maintain my hockey gloves?

Maintain your gloves by always taking them out of your bag to air dry and regularly checking palm wear and tear.

Are custom hockey gloves worth it?

For competitive and pro-level players, absolutely, especially if you’re rotating through multiple pairs each game.

Shop the Best Hockey Gloves at ProStockHockey.com

The best hockey gloves are at ProStockHockey.com. With a wide selection across levels, competitive pricing, cost-effective personalization, and pro-level build options, we can help you get a grip on your game.

Explore what’s in stock and find the gloves that match your game.

Every new top-end release seems to come with the same message: lighter, faster, quicker release, reduced swing weight, more advanced carbon layering.

And to be fair, lightweight composite sticks absolutely changed hockey. Modern sticks allow players to shoot faster, handle the puck quicker, and release shots in ways that simply weren’t possible with older wood or aluminum shaft setups.

But somewhere along the way, the hockey world started assuming that lighter automatically means better.

I don’t think that’s true anymore.

The better question is:

What is the right weight for a hockey stick?

Because there’s a major difference between a stick being “light” and a stick actually performing at the highest level over time.

Personally, I believe the sweet spot is around 400 grams.

Not because it’s the lightest possible number, but because it’s where performance, balance, feel, durability, and real-world playability all start coming together.

Other sports have already gone through this exact same debate.

Hockey Isn’t the First Sport to Learn This Lesson

Baseball went through this years ago.

When aluminum and composite bats became mainstream, manufacturers started making bats lighter and lighter. The thinking made sense on paper: lighter bat equals faster swing speed.

But eventually hitters started realizing something. Some bats became too light.

Players lost feel for the barrel. The swing path didn’t feel as connected. There wasn’t enough weight moving through the zone to create natural momentum and timing. A lot of hitters — especially stronger and more advanced hitters — actually preferred slightly heavier bats because they could feel the bat working through the swing.

That extra weight created rhythm and controlled momentum.

Hockey sticks are no different.

A stick isn’t just something you hold. It’s part of a player’s timing, balance, shooting mechanics, puck feel, and confidence. Players need to feel the stick load during a shot. They need to feel the blade receive the puck. They need to feel resistance during battles and one-timers.

At some point, if a stick becomes too light, some players lose that connection.

That doesn’t mean ultra-light sticks are bad. It just means there’s a point where lighter stops automatically meaning better.

What NHL Players Actually Use

One of the biggest misconceptions in hockey equipment is that NHL players all use the newest retail sticks hanging on store walls. That’s not reality.

At ProStockHockey.com we sell authentic NHL pro stock sticks every day, and one thing becomes obvious very quickly:

A lot of NHL players are using sticks that are heavier than today’s latest retail releases. In fact, many NHL sticks fall in the 425-460 gram range.

That surprises people because retail marketing has conditioned consumers to think 360 grams is automatically superior.

But NHL players aren’t chasing marketing numbers. They’re chasing performance and manufacturers will literally build whatever those players want.

If a player wants a reinforced blade, they get it. If they want extra material in the lower shaft, they get it. If they want an older construction from five years ago, manufacturers will keep making it. If they want a different balance point, dampened puck feel, or stronger hosel construction, it gets customized.

These are highly tuned tools built specifically for how that player shoots and plays. And many elite players still want enough weight in the stick to actually feel it during the game.

That matters.

Because if the lightest possible stick automatically created the best performance, NHL players would all be using the absolute lightest sticks available.

A lot of them aren’t.

Feel Matters More Than People Think

One thing the hockey industry doesn’t talk about enough is feel.

Weight is easy to market because it’s measurable. You can put “360 grams” on a graphic and instantly position the stick as elite.

But players don’t play hockey with a stick sitting still on a scale. They play with it moving through space. That’s where balance, stability, and feel become incredibly important.

A well-balanced 405-gram stick can honestly feel lighter in play than a poorly balanced 370-gram stick.

Players care about:

• how stable the blade feels
• how connected the puck feels
• how the stick loads during a shot
• how predictable the release feels
• how the stick reacts under pressure

Those things matter far more than simply shaving another 15 grams off the total weight.

Player Size Matters Too

Another thing that gets overlooked is player size.

Height and body weight matter a lot when it comes to stick preference. A 5’8”, 155-pound forward loads a stick very differently than a 6’4”, 220-pound NHL defenseman.

Bigger, stronger players naturally put more force into the shaft and blade. They lean harder into shots. They generate more torque. They put more stress on the lower portion of the stick during battles and puck protection.

For many of those players, ultra-light sticks can actually start feeling unstable or overly fragile. That’s one reason a lot of pro players still prefer heavier builds with more reinforcement and a stronger overall feel. The stronger the player, the more important structural stability becomes.

That’s also why you can’t talk about the “perfect” stick weight universally. Different players need different things.

But for a broad range of serious hockey players, 400 grams sits in a really interesting middle ground.

Durability Is Part of Performance

With the cost of hockey sticks continuing to rise, durability matters as well as performance.

Actually, durability is performance.

A stick that feels amazing for three games before the blade softens or the shaft cracks isn’t truly elite performance over time.

To get sticks down into the ultra-lightweight category, manufacturers usually have to make compromises somewhere including:

• thinner walls
• less reinforcement
• lighter blade cores
• more aggressive carbon layering
• reduced material in key stress points

That can absolutely create amazing initial feel and responsiveness. But there’s often a tradeoff. And here’s the thing: the difference between a 360-gram stick and a 400-gram stick is only about 40 grams. Roughly 1.4 ounces. That’s not much.

But structurally, that extra material can make a huge difference in:

• blade stability
• durability
• long-term consistency
• torsional stiffness
• impact resistance
• overall balance

Those extra grams aren’t wasted if they improve how the stick performs over time.

The Hockey Industry Has Become Obsessed With Weight

The hockey stick market has almost become a weight competition. Every company wants to claim they have the lightest stick ever made. But there’s a point where companies start chasing numbers more than actual game performance. The jump from a 500-gram stick to a 400-gram stick was massive and obvious to everybody. The jump from 400 grams to 360 grams? Much smaller than marketing makes it sound.

At that point, other factors become far more important:

• balance point
• shaft geometry
• blade construction
• kick point
• puck feel
• player preference
• shooting style

A properly built 400-gram stick can absolutely outperform a lighter stick if it gives the player better feel, balance, and confidence.

Why 400 Grams Feels Like the Sweet Spot

This is why 400 grams makes so much sense. At 400 grams, a stick is still extremely light by historical standards. It still feels quick, modern, responsive, and high-end.

But it also allows manufacturers enough material to build:

• stronger blades
• better balance
• more stability
• better durability
• more consistent feel over time

It’s not heavy. It’s balanced.

And honestly, when you look at what many NHL players are actually using behind the scenes — often well above retail ultra-light weights — it becomes pretty clear that elite performance is about much more than simply making a stick as light as possible.

The future of hockey sticks probably won’t be about who builds the lightest stick. It’ll be about who builds the best-performing stick overall. And for a lot of players, that sweet spot may end up being right around 400 grams.

New models. New graphics. New technology.

But this offseason, some of the buzz isn’t coming from the traditional giants. Instead, whispers are starting to build around the up-and-coming company out of Winnipeg that has quietly earned serious credibility behind the scenes.

The name generating attention? ONYX.

Very little information has surfaced so far, but industry chatter suggests Pro Reserve could be preparing to launch a completely new stick line this summer. The people inside hockey are most certainly paying attention.

For years, Pro Reserve has operated differently than most stick companies. While the mainstream market has focused heavily on flashy marketing campaigns and annual retail refreshes, Pro Reserve built its reputation more quietly. They have focused on elite-level stick construction, pro-level customization, and solid relationships with players.

What makes the rumors around ONYX especially intriguing is Pro Reserve has already been involved in producing sticks for some of hockey’s biggest names.

During the 2025-26 season players like Alex Ovechkin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Jakob Chychrun were regulars with the brand. There have also been numerous sample sightings from guys like Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Tage Thompson, and David Pastrnak in recent years.

Whether every rumor is accurate or not, one thing is clear: Pro Reserve has quickly become a name people inside the game are watching closely.

Up until now, Pro Reserve sticks have been known for a much more understated design philosophy. Most models have featured a primarily all-black look with only subtle branding near the lower shaft.

Clean. Minimal. Graphic-free.

But ONYX suggests a completely different direction for this stick, in particular, and is expected to feature a far more aggressive, elite-level graphic. It is something designed to compete visually with the premium sticks like Bauer’s Tracer and FLYLITE, as well as CCM’s Tacks XF Ghost and JetSpeed FT8 Pro. If true, that could represent a major shift for the brand.

And honestly, it makes sense.

The hockey stick market is always searching for the next breakout product. Players want performance first, but graphics and “cool” still matter a lot. Especially at the elite retail level.

Consumers want a stick that not only performs like a top-end model but also one that may win the beauty contest.

That just might be where ONYX has an opportunity.

If Pro Reserve can combine the pro-level construction and reputation they’ve quietly built with a truly premium visual identity, they could end up attracting a much wider audience than ever before.

Sometimes what it takes is enough players asking one question: “What stick is that?”

That’s where next season could get interesting.

When ONYX starts appearing in locker rooms the attention could build quickly. Hockey players notice equipment. They especially notice gear they haven’t seen before. And if the stick performs at the level some insiders believe it can, curiosity alone could create serious momentum.

Of course, right now, most of this remains speculation. No major launch details have been formally released.

But sometimes the most exciting product launches are the ones that arrive with a little mystery.

Right now, ONYX has plenty of it. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: People are watching Pro Reserve very closely heading into this summer.

And if the rumors are true, ONYX may end up being one of the most talked-about stick launches of the year.

My name is Zack Sharp, and I am from the suburbs outside of Chicago, Illinois. I am currently a sophomore at Western Michigan University, where I study sport management and play Division I hockey.

My hockey journey started at a young age, when my mom first got me on skates as soon as I could walk. From there, the game quickly became a huge part of my life. What started as just learning to skate has become a passion that has pushed me to compete at higher levels and to continue developing both on and off the ice.

Youth Hockey: Where It All Started

Youth hockey is really where it all began for me. I played for the Naperville Sabres until I was 12 years old, when I was faced with the opportunity to make the jump to the AAA level. Instead of moving up right away like many of my teammates and friends, I made the decision to stay back for an extra year. Looking back, that decision played a major role in my development, as it allowed me to grow my confidence and skill set, making my transition to AAA much smoother the following year.

My AAA career began with the Chicago Young Americans at the 12U level, where I spent two years developing my game and adjusting to the higher level of competition. After that, I made the move to Team Illinois, where I continued to improve and compete against some of the top players in the country. Those two years were extremely important for my growth, both on and off the ice, as I began to understand what it takes to play at an elite level.

As the USHL Draft approached, I had another big decision to make. I believed that putting myself in the best position to be drafted meant seeking out the highest level of exposure and competition possible. That led me to join the Chicago Mission at the U15 level. This was one of the most important decisions in my youth career, as it pushed me to another level and gave me the opportunity to showcase my abilities. Playing for the Mission not only helped me earn USHL draft interest, but it also led to invitations to national team development camps, which was a big milestone for me.

Early on Adversity

During my U15 youth hockey career, I was very fortunate to be selected for the National Team Development Program invite camp. This was one of the first times I had ever been invited to an event of that level, and it was a huge honor for me to be chosen among the top 40 players in my age group. I felt very confident going into that camp and believed I had a real chance to make the team. I prepared hard, played well, and gave myself what I thought was the best opportunity to earn a spot.

Although I felt I performed well, things ultimately did not go my way, and I did not make the final team. I remember feeling extremely disappointed and let down, especially because of how much the opportunity meant to me. It was one of the first major moments in my hockey career where I experienced that level of disappointment after investing so much into something.

Even though it was tough in the moment, it taught me a lot about resilience and handling adversity at a young age. It showed me that not everything is going to go my way, even when I feel prepared and confident. Instead of letting it discourage me long-term, I used it as motivation to keep working, improve my game, and come back stronger for future opportunities.

Using Adversity as Motivation

Following the cut from the National Team Development Program, which was a giant letdown, I had to take a step back and really look at myself in the mirror. I realized it wasn’t the end of the world, and that I needed to move on, use it as motivation, and trust that better opportunities were coming.

After that, I began to gain real interest from USHL teams ahead of the draft. I ultimately ended up being selected in the second round the following year, which was a another milestone in my hockey career. I was extremely proud of that moment, as it felt like a major step forward and validation of the work I had put in.

That selection gave me the opportunity to attend my first-ever USHL main camp with the Sioux Falls Stampede. That experience was something I will never forget — it was fast, competitive, and a tremendous learning moment for me. It was also around this time that I first started to receive college interest, which was a big shock and something I wasn’t fully expecting at that stage in my career. I still remember those first phone calls and conversations, and how exciting but surreal that moment was for me.

After that, I had the opportunity to return to the Chicago Mission for one more season, even though some players my age were making the jump to junior hockey. While I didn’t make that jump at the same time, going back to the Mission ended up being a great opportunity for my development. It gave me a chance to take on a bigger role, play with confidence, and really grow as a player and a person. I finished that year feeling confident in my game and in my path moving forward, knowing I had taken important steps in my development and was continuing to move in the right direction.

Junior Hockey Career

Junior hockey can be very tough at times, and I definitely faced a lot of adversity during my junior hockey career. But at the end of the day, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. My junior hockey career started with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2022. I was 17 years old, it was my first time moving away from home, going to a new city, a new school, and living on my own for the first time. Everything in my life was completely new.

There were definitely days when I struggled with the adjustment. I would call home and say I didn’t like this or I didn’t like that, and it took me a while to get comfortable with the new environment, the pace of junior hockey, and everything that came with being on my own. It was a big learning curve both on and off the ice, and not everything felt easy right away.

Midway through that same season, I ended up getting traded to the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That was another major change and honestly, a whirlwind for me. It was another new team, new system, new living situation, and I had to adjust all over again in a short period of time. Even though it was overwhelming in the moment, it ended up being a blessing in disguise.

Cedar Rapids turned out to be one of the most important stops in my hockey career. It not only helped shape me into a better hockey player, but it also helped develop me into the young man I am today. There were definitely ups and downs — no question about that — but the experience forced me to grow up, become more independent, and learn how to handle adversity in a real way.

Looking back now, I have a true appreciation for everything I went through during that time, because it played a key part in preparing me for where I am today, both on and off the ice.

NHL Draft: Patience and Perseverance

Through my first season in the USHL, I began to gain interest from NHL teams through calls, emails, questionnaires, and interviews. That was a big shock for me and an unbelievable feeling, knowing something I had dreamed about my whole life was starting to feel real. As the year went on, I gained confidence and heard more about my chances for the upcoming NHL Draft. I remember my first year of eligibility clearly. The night before the draft, I couldn’t sleep, just thinking about the possibility of hearing my name called. On draft day, I went to work out and tried to stay busy instead of watching it all day, but I never got the call. I was extremely disappointed, but in hindsight, it became one of my biggest motivators.

I carried that frustration into my final year of junior hockey with one goal in mind: to get drafted. I went through the same process again — emails, calls, and interviews — but once again, I went undrafted. With one eligibility year left, I decided to go to Western Michigan University, where I stepped into a great situation with a strong team and a big opportunity ahead of me. During that year, my confidence grew as I continued to receive interest and go through interviews. On draft day, I stayed calm, went golfing, and tried not to think about it too much. That day became the best day of my life when I got a call from the San Jose Sharks saying I had been selected in the fourth round of the NHL Draft.

That moment taught me patience and resilience. No matter how long the process takes or how many setbacks you face, if you keep pushing forward, it can all pay off in the end.

National Championship

My first year at Western Michigan as a freshman was honestly a fever dream. It was everything you could ask for: the team was great, the coaches were great, the fans were great, and the overall support around the program was unbelievable. On top of that, the on-ice success was through the roof.

We won the regular season NCHC title, followed by the NCHC playoff championship, and ultimately went on to win the 2025 National Championship in St. Louis against Boston University. Winning that game was one of the best days of my life.

In that moment, it really felt like all the hard work, setbacks, and adversity I had faced throughout my career finally paid off. It’s something I will never forget and will always be incredibly proud of.

What Young Players Worry About Too Much — and What They Should Focus on Instead

I think a lot of young players worry way too much about things that don’t really matter in the long run. Stuff like points, rankings, who’s getting more attention, or who’s moving up faster. It’s easy to get caught comparing yourself to everyone else or stressing about getting noticed, but honestly, that just takes your focus away from what actually helps you improve.

Another big thing is overthinking mistakes. One bad shift or one bad game can feel like the end of the world when you’re younger, but in reality, it’s not that big of a deal. Everyone messes up — it’s part of the game.

What players should really be focused on is just getting better every day. Taking care of the little things, working hard in practice, being consistent, and controlling what you can control. Things like your effort, your attitude, how you train, and how you respond when things don’t go your way.

At the end of the day, development isn’t a straight line. Everyone’s path is different. The guys who make it are usually the ones who stay patient, keep working, and don’t get too caught up in everything else going on around them.

My name is Jack Phelan, and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I’m currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, where I play Division I hockey and major in Finance. I started skating when I was five, and the next year I began playing travel hockey. Even though I have two brothers who also play, Danny (Wentworth D3) and Michael (Miami Ohio D1), no one in my family grew up playing played hockey.

My introduction to the sport really took off because of a family friend, Paul Phillips, who had a great hockey career. At the time, he was playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL, and we went to watch him play when they came to town to face the Chicago Steel. I only remember bits and pieces of the game, but my brothers and I were fascinated. The next day, my dad took us to buy street hockey sticks, and that kicked off a love for the game that has been with me ever since.

Youth Hockey: Where It Started

My first three years of travel hockey were with the Chicago Hawks in Darien, Illinois. My first year, I played on the Mite B4 team, and then I jumped up to Mite AA1 for the next two seasons. Even though most kids around that age are still figuring out their position, I was a natural defenseman and only wanted to play defense because my role model at the time, Paul Phillips, was a defenseman.

After another year at the Hawks, I moved on and made the jump to AAA hockey with the Chicago Mission. I ended up playing eight seasons there, coming in as a kid and leaving as a man. I played for a lot of great coaches and met tons of great people and teammates along the way.

Adversity From Setbacks

Growing up and playing at a prestigious program like the Mission, U14 through U16 was when players really started getting recruited, not only by colleges, but by junior teams and the National Development Program, too. Kids were getting advisors and getting all these looks, but nothing ever seemed to come my way.

I was a late bloomer, so I was on the smaller side back then, crazy enough that I am 6'3" now. I was always smart and understood the game well, but I remember getting pushed around a little bit during my U14 year.

I will never forget breaking down in front of my parents one night after practice. I was frustrated and honestly just felt a little behind physically with the kids my age. Looking back, that was a moment that really drove me because I knew how badly I wanted it, and it pushed me to start becoming the best version of myself. Thanks to my parents and the countless amounts of support, time, and sacrifice they have given me my whole life, I learned that I was going to have to do more. I had to start eating more, shooting pucks, and working out even harder if I wanted to catch up and give myself a real shot.

I started to grow a little and had a solid U15 season. I talked to a few USHL teams, and I will always remember them telling me they were going to take me in the draft the next day. I watched the whole draft and never saw my name get called.

I had another good summer and then had a great U16 year despite all the COVID regulations. I was certain I would at least get picked in the USHL Phase 2 Draft after speaking to more teams. The same thing happened again. I talked to teams that claimed they were taking me, and I came up short again.

That left me worried, because you always hear about the best players leaving after U15 or U16 to pursue junior hockey in the USHL or CHL. At the time, it felt like everyone else was moving forward and I was still waiting.

Looking back, that was one of the biggest lessons of my career. Young players worry way too much about when things are supposed to happen. I definitely had moments where I compared myself to other guys, but my path was never supposed to look like theirs.

I ended up making Sioux City’s 40-man camp and finally talked to my first college. I had a good summer, and even though I was a little worried about playing U18, it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me.

U18: The Jumpstart I Needed

It was my senior year of high school, and I was fortunate that a ton of my best friends were on that team too. More than anything, I still needed time to fill into my body and develop my game before going on to junior hockey. Something I always heard was that when you make the jump to another level, you want to be able to go in and make an impact right away. That stuck with me.

I ended up having an awesome season and earned a tender with the North Iowa Bulls in the NAHL, who were also going to let me play at the end of their season. With North Iowa, I was able to jump in right away and play solid minutes, which got me on the radar of a lot more colleges and USHL teams. It was refreshing to know that my hard work had started to pay off with schools reaching out and teams finally noticing me. I cannot thank Todd Sanden (my coach there) enough for bringing me in after the season and letting me play 12 NAHL games. That stretch was almost like a jump start for my career.

After years of coming up short in the USHL Draft, I finally got picked in the seventh round by the Sioux Falls Stampede.

USHL: Growing Up and Earning My Spot

The USHL was great. I had always been around older guys who played there, and I thought it was the coolest league to play in.

I came into training camp with a stool in the corner and the number 12, with my three choices for numbers were 8, 7, and 4. We had 11 defensemen there and only kept 8, so at the start I was definitely a little nervous. I knew nothing was going to be handed to me.

I ended up having a great training camp and preseason, earning a spot on the opening night roster and a commitment to Minnesota State, which I later flipped to Wisconsin. That year was a journey, starting at the bottom of the pack and earning my way into the top four of the defensive core.

Junior hockey can be tough at times, but I enjoyed it a ton. Junior hockey is a great time not only to work on your game but grow into an adult while away from home. I came back for a second year and was named captain before coming to Wisconsin.

That part of my career taught me a lot too. A lot of guys worry too much about getting to the next level as fast as possible, but once you get there, you have to be ready to earn your spot. For me, staying patient helped a lot. Playing U18 when I did, going to North Iowa when I did, going into Sioux Falls, and then going to Wisconsin when I was ready made a huge difference.

NHL Draft: The Breakthrough Moment

Throughout my first season in Sioux Falls, I started to get questionnaires from NHL teams, which was super surreal. In under a year, I had made the USHL, earned a college commitment, and now I was starting to talk to National Hockey League teams. It was a whirlwind, but I would not have changed it for the world. Some things were finally starting to click, and it was refreshing after years of hard work and not much coming from it.

I interviewed face to face with teams after games and had a lot of phone calls as the season started to wind down. I thought I had a good chance, but I did not want to get my hopes up because a draft can go a number of ways, like it did the previous years with the USHL. My trainer, Barry Brennan, had very good hopes for me at least getting a development camp invite if the draft did not go as planned. I trusted him, but I could barely sleep the night before the draft.

(Picture on the right is my first time playing against my brother Michael)

I woke up, got a workout in, and did not want to watch the draft. I went to grab lunch after my workout and was fighting the urge to check my phone, but I’m kind of superstitious, so I was not going to let that urge win. As I was putting Maps in to get home from lunch, my old teammate Maxim Strbak, who got picked in the second round by Buffalo, called me out of nowhere. Right away I thought, this could be it. He said, congrats man. I said, what? He goes, you just got picked. One of the best feelings ever rushed through my body. I asked by who and in what round which made him think I was crazy. I ended up getting taken by the Detroit Red Wings with the ninth pick in the fifth round, 137th overall.

That was one of the highest highs of my career, but what made it so special was everything that came before it. It was all the years of being overlooked, all the times I thought something was finally going to happen and it did not, and all the work that nobody really sees. Although this is a great accomplishment there is so much more work I need to put into my game to play at the pro level.

What Actually Moves the Needle

Some of the key things that I believe have helped me so far in my career are training, diet, and consistency. As a tall guy at 6'3", 195 pounds, and still growing into my body, training not only for strength, but speed and mobility too, is crucial. I have to thank Barry Brennan, who trains me back home in Chicago, for helping me get bigger, stronger, and faster every summer. I work out five days a week, with Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as lift days, and Tuesday and Thursday as conditioning, either on the bike or doing 300-yard shuttles. I have made a ton of growth over the last four years with him and actually tested number one among defensemen at development camp this past summer, which was a cool moment for me.

Because I have been working on putting on weight every summer, eating is just as important, if not more important, for a guy like me who struggles to put on weight. Eating is like a job for me. In the summer, I eat a minimum of four heavy meals a day, and I have a protein shake every night before bed.

Consistency has been another major factor in my game that I have been working on for a long time. I play a physical game, and making sure I have that edge before every game is one of the biggest parts of my preparation.

I like switching my mind after pregame warmups to block out the noise and focus on a few things I want to make sure I take care of while playing the game. Obviously, you want to play your perfect A+ game every night, but that is just not possible. Building a rock-solid B game that you can always fall back on is what some of the best in the world do, and that is something I really believe in.

If there is one thing I would tell younger players, it isn’t good to worry way too much about who is getting drafted, who is getting offers, who has an advisor, who is leaving first, and who is getting attention. I get it because I worried about some of that too. But what actually moved the needle for me was getting stronger, staying patient, staying consistent, and being ready when the opportunity finally came. My path has been nowhere near perfect and will continue to have bumps in the road, but you always have to trust the process.

The Future: What Comes Next, and What It Takes

Obviously, the NHL is such a competitive league, and with my goal of one day playing in it, there is still a lot of work to be done. Every year there are tons of great players trying to earn their spot, so one of the biggest ways I differentiate myself is by sticking to my game and knowing exactly what kind of player I am. I have never been known for huge point production, but I take a lot of pride in playing a strong two-way defensive game. I take pride in my skating, my stick, and my defensive instincts, and I try to be sharp on my first passes every night while beating my check up the ice after breaking the puck out.

I feel like this year I made a big step in closing quickly in the neutral zone and defensive zone by using my feet to take away time and space, then finishing plays with my stick and body. The biggest way I separate myself is by being as reliable as I can be, hard to play against, and someone coaches can trust late in games. I keep trying to chip away at becoming more steady, physical, and consistent every night. The biggest thing I work on every summer is my skating, because even though it is already a strength of mine, I know that to play at the highest level you need to be a world class skater. I am also big on watching a ton of NHL hockey to pick up small details that can help my game.

To give myself the best chance to play in this league, summer training is a huge part of it. This summer, my main goals are to get quicker, more explosive, and to keep adding strength. With three lifts a week, two conditioning days, and two skates a week, the summer can get hectic, but it is one of the most important times of the year for a hockey player. When I am home I workout with Barry Brennan. When I am at Wisconsin, we have a great strength coach, Tommy Inkrott, who does an unbelievable job at getting us bigger, stronger, and faster every summer. A lot of the work that shows up during the season gets built in the offseason.

In the gym, I do a lot of Olympic lifts along with eccentric and concentric work, squats, and agility training to put myself in the best shape possible. At my size, being strong is really important too. I play at 195 pounds right now, and my goal for next season is to play around 205 pounds. For a skinny kid, eating is honestly one of the hardest parts of my summer routine. Pushing myself to the limit on the ice and in the gym has never been a problem, but I have never been a great eater.

I make it a priority to eat four big meals a day. Some of my go to meals are eggs and rice, ground beef and rice, chicken and rice, steak and rice, and I try to add avocado whenever I can. I also take creatine to help with recovery and performance, and I finish every day with a peanut butter and banana protein shake right before bed. One of the biggest things I have learned is that I almost have to cut out snacking in the summer, so I do not ruin my appetite for the meals that matter most.

When I condition, I wear a heart rate monitor to manage both my aerobic and anaerobic work, making sure I am not just training my body and lungs, but my heart as well. On the ice, I skate with a few pros in the summer, and we work a lot on footwork, walking the blue line, deception on breakouts, two on ones, and picking up rims and pucks off the wall. I also try to limit myself to two skates a week, so my skating muscles stay as fresh as possible. For me, the gym and my diet are the biggest pieces of my summer because they give me the best chance to build myself into the player I want to be.

At the end of the day, everything comes back to preparation. The work you put in during the offseason shows up when it matters most.

My name is Matthew DiMarsico, and I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am a junior at Penn State University, where I play Division 1 hockey and major in finance.

The Journey

I started my hockey journey at two years old when my parents introduced me to skating. I continued with the learn-to-skate program until I started playing organized hockey with local teams in Pittsburgh.

My brother, who is two years older than me, started playing hockey, and I attended all his practices and games. When I first started playing on these teams, I found myself not making the top teams but being on the lower teams. I remember this motivating me, and truly, it was when I fell in love with the game.

After playing locally in Pittsburgh for two years, I tried out for the Penguins Elite team. I was nervous about going up against the best players from my age group in the Pittsburgh area, but I made the team and played there for eight years.

When I was 15, I was selected in the USHL draft by the Green Bay Gamblers. I spent two years visiting Green Bay, practicing, and working out with the team for a week or two at a time while still playing for the Penguins Elite.

I was planning on going into the league during my senior year of high school, but in my last game with the Penguins Elite, I dislocated my shoulder and required surgery that would put me out for seven months. This was my first real setback in my hockey career. 

With the long recovery and rehab that I needed, I decided to push back going to the USHL for one more year and spent my senior year at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. I made this decision not only because of the hockey program but also because Avon Old Farms provided a great academic environment to finish my high school education.

After my season at Avon Old Farms, I was planning on going to Green Bay in the USHL. The entire staff that drafted me was no longer there, so it was up to me to prove myself once again. I attended training camp, being on the 5th line during it. After a strong training camp and preseason, I cemented a role that I had worked hard to keep through that year.

After my year in Green Bay, I went to school at Penn State, where I am now. My time at Penn State has taught me a lot about myself both on and off the ice, especially how to persevere through challenges. College athletics, not just hockey, is truly a combination of the best players around the world in one league.

It took time to adjust, as I did not have the start I wanted to my freshman year. However, I worked hard and developed great relationships with the coaching staff, which helped me build confidence and eventually improve my play tremendously later that  year. Learning to have good communication with the coaching staff, being able to go over areas of improvement, and taking advantage of all of the off-ice resources Penn State provides has helped not only my on-ice game, but my off-ice habits as well.

More recently, I was named to the Hobey Baker watch list is a rewarding feeling. It is great knowing all the hard work I have put in has produced results.

What Helped Spark My Development

In my journey of development, there is one common theme: consistency. For me, consistency wasn't something that I had to force. My love for the sport naturally drove me to get better every day. 

In my younger years, that meant rollerblading in the driveway, shooting pucks outside, and watching NHL games on TV. I could see my development taking place early, as I rose to be one of the top players on my team.

When I reached middle school, I started getting into the gym. The strength coaches at the Penguins Elite really helped me create a plan to help my development in becoming stronger and more explosive.

The last major area of my development has been watching video. I started doing this in my senior year of high school, and it is something that has had a major impact on my current game. Hockey IQ is such a valuable skill, and being able to watch games back allowed me to better understand the mental side of the game.

Overall, it was not one day or even one year that made me into the player that I am today. The consistent habits and wanting to get a little bit better every day are the reasons I have been able to accomplish my goal of playing Division 1 hockey. 

Setbacks and Adversity

As I mentioned earlier, one of the major setbacks I faced was my shoulder surgery. This was the first time I missed a game due to injury in my entire hockey career.

Going through that process was difficult for me, especially at first. The injury really made me realize how much I enjoy hockey and motivated me to work much harder to be able to play as long as I can.

Another example came at the start of my sophomore year at Penn State. I started the year off really slow and was healthy scratched in a game versus Saint Lawrence. It made me question my process. I had a great summer and was working hard, but I just was not performing to the level that I needed to be during games. I used this experience as an opportunity for me to learn and grow.

Also, there are smaller battles of adversity that are important to overcome, whether that includes a smaller injury or a bad shift. Learning how to mentally focus throughout the course of a practice or game has really helped my development, and something I put a lot of time and energy into this year.

Developing mental strategies and working with mental coaches has helped me excel at this part of the game. This has helped my consistency from a game-to-game basis, which is a skill that becomes more and more important in the higher levels of hockey.

Experiences and Opportunities

Throughout my hockey journey, I have had amazing experiences, including playing in the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland and playing in Beaver Stadium at Penn State.

The Spengler Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in the world, starting in 1923 in Davos, Switzerland. I represented the U.S. Collegiate Selects, a team full of college all-stars, and the other teams in the Spengler Cup feature professional European teams and Team Canada, which is a team of the best players from Canada not playing in the NHL.

Aside from the hockey, the experience of traveling to Switzerland was something extremely special that I will never forget. This is an example of how hockey can unlock experiences that I would have never had without the game, and I am extremely grateful that hockey was able to give me that opportunity. Secondly, playing in Beaver Stadium, the football stadium for Penn State, was amazing.

What Younger Players Focus on Too Much

I think when it comes to mistakes that I have seen in hockey, a lot of them come with player burnout and then not enjoying hockey as much as they once did.

The average age of an NHL debut is around 21 years old, and that number may only going to get older with the rule change allowing Canadian Hockey League (OHL, WHL, and QMJHL) players to enter college hockey.

One common mistake I have seen with this is guys who rush into the next level of hockey before they are ready. For example, some players jump from youth hockey straight into the junior level. From my personal experience, I could have gone to the USHL at 17, but I decided to finish out high school at Avon Old Farms. I realized where I was in my game, and that physically I was not ready to play junior hockey at that age.

That year in prep school, I put my main focus into putting myself in a position where I could step right into junior hockey and be successful. I worked really hard in the gym and put on a good 10-12 pounds, which I really noticed when I made the transition into the USHL.

In juniors, guys are older and more physical than in Triple-A hockey and having a stronger frame helps on the ice and with injury prevention.

Other guys I played with wanted to make the jump right away. While it worked out for some, others found themselves really struggling to adapt to the junior game, losing their confidence throughout the course of a season, and not living up to the expectations that were set for them. This is also true of the transition from juniors to college.

Another mistake I commonly see is player burnout. Growing up, I played many different sports including lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and golf, just to name a few. Not having hockey as a year-round sport until my senior year of college helped reduce burnout and helped me enjoy it more when I was in season. Playing other sports also leads to building overall athleticism, which is a big component of hockey.

Furthermore, hockey is a hard sport on your body, and taking some time off to enjoy other sports and activities is really important, especially when you are younger.

This leads me to my last point is that hockey is supposed to be fun. I have made friends and memories that will last me the rest of my life. Not stressing out about points and numbers and just enjoying the journey of hockey is important, because everyone truly has a different path and a different career. Controlling what you can control, working to improve every day, and enjoying the game are things that all players should strive to achieve. These things have helped me throughout my career to reach the position I am in now.

My Hockey Story

When I think about where my hockey life really began, it isn’t a draft day, a goal, or a contract. It’s a backyard rink in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, standing beside my dad, freezing cold, just happy to be on the ice. Hockey wasn’t a plan back then. It was play. It was imagination. It was freedom.

My father was a great athlete and one of the best players to come out of the Soo, so hockey was always around us. But there was never a blueprint handed to me. In those days, the only NHL game we watched was Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights. We’d sit there, wide-eyed, then head outside and pretend we were those players. No coaches, no systems, just kids copying what they saw and figuring it out together.

Unstructured Play Matters More Than You Think

Most of what I learned about hockey didn’t come from drills. It came from shinny games at schoolyard rinks, playing with anyone who showed up. Bigger kids, smaller kids, better kids, it didn’t matter. You learned quickly or you didn’t get the puck. That’s where my feel for the game came from. I grew up playing with Ron Francis, and even back then, you could see how those unstructured games built vision and awareness. We weren’t thinking about development; we were just having fun. That mattered more than we realized.

At eight years old, we played one organized game a week. Everything else was backyard time. If something didn’t feel right in my game, I didn’t talk about it. I went outside and worked on it. Shooting pucks. Stickhandling. Skating until it felt natural. Looking back, that was one of the best things I ever did: I learned to self-correct. What worked for me was owning my improvement. What didn’t work was waiting for someone else to fix things for me.

When Talent Meets Preparation

As I moved into travel hockey and eventually bantam and midget, the game became more competitive, but the foundation stayed the same. Confidence came from preparation. My breakout years didn’t happen by accident. They happened because I enjoyed the work. Scoring 86 goals in 32 games wasn’t about chasing numbers; it was the result of years of loving the process. Winning championships taught me that individual success means very little if it doesn’t serve the team.

Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, you couldn’t escape the presence of Wayne Gretzky. Knowing he once played there made the dream feel real. After my second year of midget, I was drafted at 16 by the Toronto Marlboros of the OHL. That was the first time hockey started to feel serious. My advice to young players is simple: admire great players yes, but don’t copy their results. Copy their habits.

Junior Hockey: Growing Up Fast

Leaving home for junior hockey in Toronto was a shock. I was homesick, uncomfortable, and learning fast that talent alone doesn’t protect you. Those three years forced me to mature quickly. I learned how to manage pressure, how to compete every day, and how to keep going when things weren’t easy. What worked was resilience. What didn’t was thinking confidence comes automatically; it has to be rebuilt constantly.

The NHL Dream — And the Reality

At 18, I was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. It felt like everything I’d worked for was finally happening. I signed with the Leafs and made my NHL debut at 19, playing alongside legends like Darryl Sittler and Börje Salming. In seven games, I had five points. One day still feels unreal: I played a junior game in the afternoon, scored a hat trick, got called up that night, and scored my first NHL goal against Tony Esposito. It’s a moment I’ll always carry with me. To this day, it remains in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the only player to achieve that task to this day.

But here’s the part people don’t talk about enough: success doesn’t protect you from reality. My professional career between the NHL and AHL taught me that hockey is a business. It’s a numbers game; especially in an era with only 12 to 14 NHL teams. I played well. I contributed. But opportunity isn’t always tied to performance. That was a hard lesson.

Rediscovering the Game

There came a point when I knew I could play, but I wasn’t getting the chance I wanted. Toronto wouldn’t trade me, and I had to decide whether to stay frustrated or find another path. At 26, I chose to leave North America and go to Europe. At the time, some people saw that as a step back. For me, it became a step forward.

Playing in the UK changed my relationship with hockey. The bigger ice suited my game, but more importantly, I rediscovered joy. I played free again. I scored. I led. I stayed in the moment. Over ten seasons, I set records, won championships, and built a life. I retired at 35 in Guildford, Surrey. When the club retired my number, it was an honor that meant more to me than I ever expected.

From Player to Coach

When I transitioned into coaching, my perspective shifted completely. Teaching the game showed me how much responsibility comes with leadership. I oversaw the minor hockey program for the Guildford Flames, hiring and mentoring coaches and working with players from 10Us to 19Us. Coaching reinforced something I wish I understood earlier: the game is bigger than you, and learning never stops.

Both of my sons grew up in that program and were eventually drafted into the NHL. Watching them reach that level wasn’t about pride, it was about gratitude. Gratitude for the journey, the lessons, and the people along the way.

Getting There the Hard Way

Growing up, I was never one of the best players. At 8 years old, I got cut from a team for the first time and told I wasn’t good enough. It took a long time before I started to hear something different. I played AA hockey until I was 15, and I played four years of New York public high school hockey. My path to college hockey wasn’t a common one, but it goes to show there isn’t one path or one “right way” to get there.

Getting Cut and Closing the Gap

I spent the first seven years of my life living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Between skating on the outdoor rink at my house and constantly being around the game of hockey, this is where my love of the game started. When I turned seven, I moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where I got my first taste of getting cut from teams. It was also my first taste of having to deal with adversity. My skating was the main reason why I got cut from teams early on.

In the three years I lived in Providence, I got better every single year and started closing the gap between myself and the players that made the team. This was largely because of the sacrifices my family and I made. One of the biggest things that made a difference in my development was the extra ice time. At 5:45 a.m., I would go and do power skating before school with my dad and two brothers, and my skating took a big step.

The Rink Became Home

When I was 10, I moved to Skaneateles, New York, where I played locally for seven years. It’s a small town of around 7,000 people but has two sheets of ice. The ability to be constantly on the ice was a key aspect in my development. I played for Mitch Major for seven seasons during this time, both on his youth teams and high school teams.

It was during these years that I believe I took the biggest jump in my development. I spent countless hours at the rink during these years, with two of my former teammates Charlie Major (Cornell) and Jack Henry (Northeastern). Whether it was at skate-and-shoot before school playing shinny, or during the structured practices, we were always on the ice. All three of us pushed each other to be better, and it made a big difference in all our hockey journeys.

When Production Wasn’t Enough

In my senior year of high school, I went to South Kent School in Connecticut and played for my dad. During this season I took another step in my game and produced offensively. I was one of the better players on that team (38 points in 25 games) but was healthy scratched for the first time in my career. It made for some interesting family dinners.

During the summer before I made the jump to junior hockey, I spent lots of time in the weight room and doing skill work with my dad on the ice. Without all these hours on the ice and in the gym over the summer, I don’t know if I could’ve successfully made the jump to junior hockey.

Choosing Development Over Attention

My first year of junior hockey was with the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL. When I was deciding on where to play, my family and I weighed several factors. I had an opportunity to play in the USHL that year, but I turned it down. I felt that I wasn’t ready to play in that league and thought it would be better for my development to go to a spot where I would play in all situations and compete for a championship. Looking back on it now, I think this was the right move as I developed a lot as a player and my confidence in myself grew.

Overall, I had a pretty good year and was expecting to get some attention from colleges. During the season, I got almost zero attention from any schools. I remember looking at line charts before the games and couldn’t wrap my head around some of the kids that had logos next to their name. I was unbelievably frustrated during that year seeing players that I thought I had finally gotten better than, getting interest from schools. I thought I was getting overlooked and it added fuel to the fire.

My big break was supposed to be the AJHL showcase, where almost every school in the country would be in attendance. Two shifts into the first game, I got a major penalty for contact to the head and was suspended for the entire showcase. Once again, I had to face adversity and find another way to be successful.

Forcing the Issue

After that season, I got drafted by the Fargo Force in the USHL and attended their main camp in the summer. At the camp, I knew I had a good chance to make the team but knew there was going to be some strong competition. It was a team who returned a lot from the year before and was going to be challenging to make.

My mindset for the main camp was to work my tail off and be the hardest player to play against, and that I’m going to force them to take me. I ended up making the team out of main camp and committed to Clarkson University right after. I had a good year overall, and Clarkson decided to bring me in the following year.

Betting on Myself — Again

After finally having success, I had a really difficult start to my college hockey career. I was out of the lineup constantly and it didn’t feel like a great fit. I felt that I wasn’t getting a great opportunity and decided to go back to junior hockey. This decision wasn’t easy.

It was at a time when college hockey had a logjam of players with all the extra Covid years. I was leaving a full scholarship at Clarkson with nothing promised once I decided to go back to junior hockey.

I bet on myself and ultimately found a home at the University of Maine after a good second half in the USHL.

Learning How Winning Works

When I got to Maine, I was blown away at how hard it was. The workouts, conditioning tests, and daily practices were at a different level than what I had been a part of previously. It is a highly intense and detailed environment where you are held accountable in everything you do. My first week of practice, I was sent a clip of every pass I gave that wasn’t on the tape and the coaches stressed the importance of each rep and each puck.

I learned a lot that year on what it takes to be successful and how the gap between the best teams and the worst teams isn’t very big in college hockey. My biggest take away from this year was how important the small habits and details are in playing winning hockey. The difference between stopping on a puck, or looping away can end up making the difference in a game and even a season.

Off the ice, I learned a ton from the leaders on that team on what it takes to be a pro. The preparation and detail they did everything with are big reasons why they had such an impact on the rebirth of Maine Hockey. I lived with two of the seniors on that team (Nolan Renwick and Harrison Scott) and saw every day their consistency and how they took care of their bodies.

Ultimately, I had a successful year individually and as a team we ended the season with a Hockey East championship and berth in the NCAA tournament.

What the Grind Teaches

Looking back on my career so far, I think all my successes have been preceded by failures. My skating was one of the biggest knocks on my game early on. I spent countless hours working on my edgework and stride. Once I got my skating technique down, I lacked lower body strength. This past summer, I spent almost the entire summer working with the strength coach at Maine to improve this. What started as one of my biggest detriments has turned into one of my greatest strengths as a player. Overall, I would give four main pieces of advice for those going through their own hockey journeys.

1. It’s a marathon not a sprint. A lot of the best players I played with growing up, no longer play hockey. It’s not about who is the best 12-year-old, it’s about who can be the best over their entire hockey career.
2. Don’t focus on what everybody else is doing, focus on your own development. Growing up, I was always so frustrated looking at the attention and praise all these other kids were getting. It did me no good and caused a lot of headaches and stress that accomplished nothing.
3. Have an uncompromised belief in yourself. There are going to be times where it is hard but always having that belief in yourself is incredibly important. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s going to be hard to get others to.
4. I’ve always liked the phrase, “be elite at getting better.” I think this has summed up my development over the course of my career so far. Finding new ways to continue to grow no matter the level, will pay dividends during your career. If you improve your game faster and better than everybody else, you will win the race in the long run.

I grew up in Warroad, Minnesota. If you know Warroad, you know hockey. Hockey isn’t just something people do there, it's part of everyday life. In the winter especially, the rink is where everyone ends up. It’s where families spend their time, where kids grow up, and where friendships are made. For me, the rink has always felt like home.

I was on the ice as soon as I could walk. Skating and playing hockey was just normal. I didn’t grow up thinking about college hockey or the NHL. I wasn’t worried about where hockey might take me someday. I just liked playing. I liked skating, being competitive, and hanging out with my friends. Hockey was fun, and that’s all that mattered to me at the time.

More Than Just a Game

As I got older, that started to change. During my Peewee and Bantam years, I slowly realized that hockey was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Hockey had always been a big part of my life, but around the time I was about ten years old, it really hit me that this was more than just a game. This was something I loved and something I wanted to take seriously. Growing up in Warroad made that easy. Hockey was everywhere, and it was easy to dream big when everyone around you cared about the game as much as you did.

Playing for the Warroad High School team was always my dream. Ever since I was little, I wanted to wear that jersey and play with the guys I grew up with. That’s why I decided to stay my senior year and play high school hockey instead of leaving early. I wanted to play with my best friends and try to win a state championship for my school. Looking back, high school hockey was the most fun I’ve ever had playing the game. We had no real responsibilities other than school and hockey. We were just kids having fun, competing every day, and enjoying every moment. It really was the perfect life.

The Draft Was Just the Beginning

After my senior year, everything changed quickly. I was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Getting drafted was a surreal experience, and something I had dreamed about for a long time. I am extremely grateful for my family, friends, teammates, and coaches who helped me get there. None of it happens without them. The season and that summer before the draft was stressful. There were a lot of meetings with NHL scouts and there were scouts at just about every game I played in, which you can imagine was always in the back of my head and definitely was a cool, but also scary, feeling. When it got to draft day, I was lucky enough to be at the draft in Nashville with a group of family and friends, which was an unreal experience in itself. The day after I got drafted they flew me and the other draft picks to Tampa Bay and it was so cool to meet some of the staff and be a part of an NHL organization. The coolest part of my first development camp was being around some of the NHL guys that were there, like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point.

But getting drafted didn’t mean everything was easy from there. In a lot of ways, that’s when things got harder.

Pressure, Perspective, and Progress

My first full season in juniors with the Green Bay Gamblers was challenging. I felt a lot of pressure going into that year. I felt like I needed to prove myself right away. I felt like I needed to be just as good as I was in high school, even though the level was completely different. I compared myself to other players a lot and worried about where I stood. That mindset made things harder than they needed to be.

Mentally, it was tough. I wasn’t playing as well as I wanted to, and that bothered me. There were days where I didn’t feel confident, and it was hard to deal with that. But instead of letting it beat me, I tried to go back to why I started playing hockey in the first place. I reminded myself that I loved the game. I focused on enjoying being at the rink, working hard, and keeping a smile on my face. Over time, things started to turn around. My game came back, and I finished the season strong.

Even with the challenges, my time in Green Bay was an amazing experience. I had great teammates, a great coaching staff, and billet parents who made being away from home a lot easier. Living with billet families taught me responsibility and helped me grow as a person, not just as a hockey player. I learned how important it is to have good people around you.

Learning to Trust My Own Path

After my year in juniors, I went to the University of Minnesota Duluth to play college hockey. The move from juniors to college was a lot of fun. Actually, the teammates I have here at Duluth have made it very fun and a little easier to make the jump off and on the ice. The hardest part for me making the jump is balancing school and hockey at the same time can be mentally draining but it’s also a blessing that I get schooling while playing the best game in the world. I’m now in the middle of my sophomore year, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the path that brought me here. I’ve been lucky to have so many great people in my life, and I truly believe God has blessed me with the opportunities and support I’ve had along the way.

Looking back, one thing I would tell my younger self is to stop comparing myself to others. I spent too much time worrying about what other players were doing and how I measured up. That kind of thinking only brought me down. Everyone’s journey is different, and comparing yourself to others doesn’t help you grow. I wish I had learned that earlier.

Grateful for the Journey

What really helped my development wasn’t anything complicated. It was simply loving the game and working hard every day. I never felt like I was forcing myself to train or improve. I genuinely enjoyed it. I loved being on the ice, getting better, and competing. Because of that, it never felt like work. It just felt like what I was meant to be doing.

If there’s one thing I’d want younger players to understand, it’s that you don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Enjoy the game. Have fun with your teammates. Work hard because you love it, not because you feel pressured to be better than everyone else. If you keep your passion for the game, everything else has a way of working itself out.

Hockey has given me so many friendships, lessons, opportunities, and memories I’ll never forget. I’m grateful for where I came from, the people who helped me along the way, and the journey I’m still on. No matter where hockey takes me next, I’ll always be proud to say I grew up playing the game in Warroad, Minnesota.

At Pro Stock Hockey, we’ve evaluated trends, data, and real feedback to narrow down the best hockey sticks for the year ahead. Whether you’re upgrading your setup or helping a player choose the right tool for their game, this guide breaks down the strongest contenders.

What Makes a Great Hockey Stick

The best hockey sticks today merge cutting-edge materials with responsive engineering to maximize puck control and shot accuracy. Composite layering, carbon fiber blends, and even nano-level materials have transformed how energy transfers from player to puck.

While NHL pros influence design trends, the “perfect” stick depends on your skill level, position, and shot mechanics. A stick that’s too stiff or heavy can hurt accuracy, while the right flex and curve amplify every motion. Here’s what separates elite-level sticks in 2026:

• Kick Point: The energy-release zone of a stick. Low kick points boost speed and release, while mid-kick profiles deliver power.
• Balance: Centered weight distribution enhances puck feel, allowing smoother transitions from stickhandling to shooting.
• Blade Technology: Reinforced carbon layering, foam cores, and textured coatings improve shot consistency and dampen vibration.
• Flex & Durability: Advanced resins and lightweight weaves create sticks that feel livelier without losing strength or life span.

Modern players want a stick that complements — not compensates for — their playing style. This remains true whether you’re browsing hockey sticks for beginners or the most sophisticated models.

Top 10 Hockey Sticks for 2026

While some of these standouts were released in the last few years, they still remain top choices because their construction, responsiveness, and pro-level consistency continue to outperform the competition. Below are our top-rated hockey sticks for 2026:

1. Bauer AG5NT

Bauer’s AG5NT remains the lightest stick in hockey, thanks to its exclusive Boron Fiber construction. The stick’s ultra-reactive shaft and optimized blade stiffness help shooters generate elite shot speed with less fatigue.

Best for: Speed-focused forwards and quick-release shooters.

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2. CCM Jetspeed FT7 Pro

The FT7 Pro uses a hybrid kick point to deliver energy across every type of shot, from wrist flicks to heavy slapshots. Its Sigma STp carbon layers reinforce the blade without extra weight, giving players superior balance and feel.

Best for: All-around players seeking versatility and comfort.

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3. Warrior Super Novium

The Super Novium showcases Warrior’s most advanced Minimus Carbon 25 weave yet. Engineered for ultimate stiffness and feedback, the FuelCore T blade provides crisp energy return and long-term durability.

Best for: Playmakers demanding pro-level touch and precision.

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4. TRUE HZRDUS PX

One of the lightest mid-kick sticks on the market, the HZRDUS PX gives players exceptional release speed and shot stability. Its low-torque shaft helps defensemen keep control under pressure.

Best for: Two-way players who rely on balance, power, and durability.

5. Sherwood Rekker Legend Pro

The Rekker Legend Pro pairs FeatherLite XT construction with Sherwood’s refined low kick zone, delivering explosive release and enhanced puck control in tight spaces.

Best for: Skilled forwards prioritizing speed and quick puck handling.

6. Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2

An evolution of the original HyperLite, this stick’s XE Taper geometry reduces weight while boosting recoil. The optimized blade core provides clean, accurate releases.

Best for: Snipers and creative wingers who thrive on precision.

7. CCM Tacks AS-V Pro

CCM’s mid-kick masterpiece focuses on energy loading for pure shot power. Its reinforced shaft walls and dampened blade core increase control during long-range passes and slap shots.

Best for: Defensemen and power shooters who value stability.

8. Warrior Covert QR5 Pro

The QR5 Pro’s Edge Taper design channels energy directly into the blade, creating a lightning-fast release with minimal energy loss.

Best for: Forwards looking for fast hands and an aggressive shooting edge.

9. TRUE Catalyst PX

The Catalyst PX balances weight, strength, and response perfectly. TRUE’s precision molding maintains consistency from stick to stick, making it a top pick for competitive players.

Best for: Players who value superior control and tactile puck feel.

10. Sherwood Code TMP Pro

The Code TMP Pro’s hybrid kick point adapts to both quick snapshots and heavy slappers, while its layered carbon shaft offers elite stick durability.

Best for: Well-rounded players seeking performance and longevity.

Explore these models and more in our full hockey stick collection, including the best budget hockey sticks.

How to Choose the Right Stick for Your Game

Selecting the right stick is part science, part personal preference. At the end of the day, the best right choice comes down to your strength, playing position, and shooting technique. Even minor differences like shaft height or blade lie can influence how easily you control the puck and transfer energy into shots.

• Flex: As a rule of thumb, your flex should equal about half your body weight. Softer flex improves release speed for lighter players; stiffer shafts favor stronger shooters. Learn more about hockey stick flex.
• Curve: Curved blade designs help lift the puck and improve control, while straighter curves enhance accuracy for pass-heavy players. Explore hockey stick curves.
• Length: A stick that reaches between your chin and nose while in skates provides ideal balance. Learn how to measure a hockey stick.

A properly fitted stick not only improves shooting but also reduces fatigue and enhances puck feel, benefitting both beginners refining fundamentals and elite players fine-tuning their edge.

Best Hockey Sticks by Position and Play Style

Forwards: Low-kick sticks such as the Bauer Vapor or Sherwood Rekker improve quick releases and puck maneuverability around the crease. They’re ideal for agile skaters who rely on snap shots and deception.

Defensemen: Mid-kick models like the CCM Tacks or TRUE HZRDUS amplify shot velocity from the blue line. These sticks also provide stability for poke checks and long stretch passes.

All-Around Players: Hybrid-kick options such as the CCM Jetspeed or Bauer Nexus combine speed and control for those who play both ends of the ice. Their balanced energy transfer brings consistency to any situation.

For a deeper look at professional setups, browse the most popular NHL hockey sticks to see how leading hockey stick brands stack up under pressure.

Pro Stock vs. Retail Hockey Sticks: Key Differences

Pro stock sticks aren’t just replicas; they’re the real deal, made for NHL and AHL players. Built for higher impact and performance consistency, they often feature custom hockey stick options that you won’t find in regular retail models, such as specialized flex points, reinforced blades, and tailored shaft textures.

At Pro Stock Hockey, every stick comes straight from professional teams. This means you’re getting authentic, game-used or pro-issued models with unmatched craftsmanship and balance. Players notice the difference immediately: tighter shot response, reduced vibration, and enhanced puck control. Plus, every order includes free tape and the option for personalized name decals.

Check out our collections of NHL player sticks and used hockey sticks to explore authentic, affordable options trusted by the pros.

How Long Should a Hockey Stick Last?

Even the best gear eventually shows wear; the average lifespan of a composite stick ranges from a few months of heavy use to several seasons for casual players. Factors like shot power, frequency of play, and ice temperature all affect longevity.

Watch for these warning signs:

• Softened Flex: Indicates internal material fatigue, reducing shot pop.
• Cracks or Fraying: Early signs that the composite layers are separating.
• Blade Wear: Dulls puck responsiveness and shooting accuracy.

To extend performance, store sticks vertically in a cool, dry area and avoid leaning them against walls or heaters. Periodically check for small fractures, as catching damage early on can help prevent sudden breakage during play.

Find Your Next Stick with Pro Stock Hockey

Ultimately, the most elite models merge stick technology, fit, and feel into a tool that becomes an extension of the player. Whether you’re upgrading to a lighter model or checking out pro stock gear for the first time, a well-matched stick can elevate your confidence and control with every shift.

Explore our full lineup of sticks built for endurance, precision, and pro-level performance.

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