Ice hockey sticks have certainly evolved over the years as they were strictly made of wood in the past. However other types of materials have become common in the construction of hockey sticks including aluminum, fibreglass, Kevlar, graphite, titanium and carbon-fibre reinforced polymer. While wooden sticks are rarely used anymore they’re still legal in the NHL and other hockey leagues.
Wooden hockey sticks were typically made from willow, alder, hickory and maple wood. However other woods such as ash, aspen, and yellow birch are now commonly used as they are less expensive.
Wooden hockey sticks were first manufactured in the late 1880’s and before that, most players actually made their own. They did this by cutting out a single section of tree trunk and filing it into the desired shape. In the 1920’s sticks were usually made out of ash and were constructed from a single piece of wood. They were very durable but also heavy and this led to several changes in the manufacturing process over the years.
Two-piece sticks became common in the 1930’s which saw the blade inserted into the shaft of the stick. In the 1940’s sticks became more flexible as layers of wood were bonded together with glue and then sandwiched. During the 1950’s manufacturers started to add a fibreglass coating or lamination to the blade of the sticks for added strength and durability and then did the same with the shafts in the next decade. Wooden sticks also started to feature curved blades for the first time in the 1960’s.
How Are Wooden Hockey Sticks Made? (Manufacturing Process)
When it comes to the manufacturing process of a wood ice hockey stick, it is typically made in two separate sections which are the shaft and the blade. The sections are then customized to the manufacturer’s specifications. The blade starts out as a wooden block which is cut, shaped and then dried when it meets the size and width specifications.
When making the shaft of a stick the wood is dried and cured first in large kilns to help stop it from warping after the stick has been made. Logs of wood are placed through a multi-bladed saw which cuts the lumber into thin sheets. These wooden sheets are typically coated with fibreglass and a type of glue or adhesive and are then pressed together while placed in a heated hydraulic mold. After that the wood is cut into the rough shape of a hockey stick delivered to the stick maker.
The mold of the stick is sawed into the desired shape with the four bevelled corners of the shaft being produced at this time. A block of wood is then glued onto the end of the hockey stick to create a joint between the blade and the shaft. The centre of the block has a groove cut into it which is where the blade is fit and glued into and it’s then heated in a hydraulic press for approximately 30 minutes to cure.
When the stick dries it is smoothed and shaped on a large drum sander. After this, fibreglass is pulled over the wood which is then dipped in resin before drying. When the stick has dried it is sanded once more to make sure any rough edges are removed and smoothed out. Graphics are then usually placed on the stick via a silk-screening process and it’s usually given a clear-gloss varnish to finish it off.
Interested in the process? Watch “How its Made – Hockey Sticks” video below!
Is There Fibreglass on a Wooden Hockey Stick?
Fibreglass is used on a wooden stick as a layer in the laminated shaft as well as a reinforcement on the outer layer of the stick. The fibreglass is combined as a laminate with the wood in the shaft to help reduce the overall weight of the stick and to give it stiffness and strength. On the outer layer of the stick, the fibreglass mesh helps to reinforce it and make it more resistant to abrasions, chips and nicks.
Are NHL Hockey Sticks Made of Wood?
There are virtually no wooden hockey sticks used in the NHL these days. Wood sticks are still manufactured and are legal to use but just about every player uses a lightweight composite model. It would put the NHL player at a large disadvantage to use a wooden hockey stick in todays fast-paced hockey game.
When Did NHL Players Stop Using Wooden Sticks?
In the 1980’s aluminum hockey stick shafts were developed and tested by several NHL players including Wayne Gretzky but they didn’t become popular until the early 1990s. In the Mid 1990’s the very first composite blade was introduced and was often inserted on wooden or aluminum shafts.
In 2000, the first one-piece composite stick was developed and within five years 90 per cent NHL players had switched from wooden sticks to the new lighter-weight composite models. By 2012 most players were using composite sticks or using a wooden blade in a composite shaft and by 2018/19 all players had switched to composite models.
What Are Modern Hockey Sticks Made of Today?
Composite sticks are now the most common and popular with hockey players. They are made from carbon fibre sheets which are impregnated with partially-cured resin. The shafts are typically made by fusing approximately 15 layers of carbon fibre or graphite sheets with epoxy resin. The sheets are laid out in opposite directions to give provide the stick with maximum strength.
Different types of resins can be used with each one possessing unique properties. The blade of a hockey stick is constructed mainly with a resin-soaked epoxy foam core which is covered with sheets of carbon. The blades are then bonded to the shaft.
Read our related post “What Are Ice Hockey Sticks Made of Today?” here.
Why Are Wood Hockey Sticks Not as Popular?
Wood sticks have gone by the wayside due to the fact they are a lot heavier in weight than composite models. Players prefer composite sticks because flex and feel like their wooden counterparts but are much lighter and are easier to customize when it comes to their shape, curve, flex and weight.
Read about the 2 most common stick curves today in these posts below:
- What is the P92 Curve Good For? (Owners Review & Guide)
- What is the P88 Curve Good For? (Owners Review & Guide)
What Are Wooden Hockey Sticks Used for Today?
Today, wooden hockey sticks are typically used by youngsters who may just be starting to learn how to play the game as they are much cheaper to buy than composite models. In addition, they come in hand for playing street and pond hockey.
Final Thoughts
The hockey stick has evolved quite a lot over the years with each model being designed to be lighter than original wooden sticks without sacrificing strength and durability. However, composite sticks aren’t perfect as they can break at the most inopportune times during a game.
Hockey fans can expect more evolution when it comes to sticks as newer and stronger models could be developed in the future and hopefully at a reduced cost.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.