The 7 Best Hockey Sticks
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in May of 2018. Hockey is one of the fastest sports on earth, and if you're fortunate enough to play it, then you're unfortunate enough to know how readily modern sticks tend to break. The selections on our list represent some of the finest choices on the market, and we've included options for novice players enjoying a game on the street all the way through to top-tier models suitable for the pros. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. STX Ice Surgeon RX3
2. Arsenal Envy Carbon Fiber
3. TronX Kinetic LS Composite
Editor's Notes
June 03, 2020:
Finding the right twig is a personal journey that, for most skaters, never really ends. You might find one that feels just right, and all your shots miraculously go in and all your passes connect. Then you'll hit a slump, even a small one, and one of the first pieces of equipment you'll replace in your search for a solution will be your stick, before eventually swapping out everything from your skates to your bag. Fortunately, there are more options on the market now than ever before, with a wide variety of curves, lies, flexes, and other technologies to give you plenty of room for experimentation.
Personally, as a puck-carrying offensive defenseman, I like something a little heavier with a balanced 85 flex and a subtle, barely open curve to keep my slappers from dinging off my center's helmet. That's the kind of performance you can get with the TronX Tesla LS Composite. But that wouldn't do anything for a sniper on the wing, who would want a low kick point to decrease their release time and a much deeper, more open curve to go bar down on a goalie. For that, you might want to look to the STX Ice Surgeon RX3 or the CCM Ribcor Pro 3 PMT in our special honors section.
You'll also find the somewhat controversial Bauer Nexus ADV in that special honors section, with the silly looking hole strategically cut into its blade. I can't personally speak to the durability of this model having only played around with it for a half hour or so at a stick time, but the lightness of the blade does make the weight of the puck much more apparent, so it might be easier to keep your head up while stickhandling. It's too flexible at the bottom for my style of play, ultimately, but the forward I borrowed it from swears by it.
Special Honors
Warrior Fantom QRE SR While most companies offer 30, 45, or occasionally 60 days for their warranties, these guys are confident enough to give you 90, so if you can snap it, they'll replace it. That's because it's made using a lightweight flat-woven carbon fiber that adds a lot of durability. It's still plenty lightweight, but it's only available at a 75 or 85 flex, so heavy shooters might want to look elsewhere. warrior.com
Bauer Nexus ADV This model probably has one of the most innovative designs available anywhere. The obvious quirk about it is that there's a section cut out from the top portion of the blade, but what's less obvious is that the section above the cutaway is a lot stiffer than the section below. That difference in design allows for a greater feel for the puck without sacrificing durability. bauer.com
CCM Ribcor Pro 3 PMT Everything about this offering has been designed toward increasing the speed of its release. To that end, it isn't as powerful as some of the company's other models, but accuracy and quickness will almost always beat a goalie out over power. Rounded corners and concave sides along the shaft increase the effect of small movements in the hands, as well, letting you drag the puck into a shooting position faster. ccmhockey.com
4. Arsenal Jealousy Performance
5. TronX Tesla LS Composite
6. Frontier 5000 Senior
7. Mylec Eclipse Jet Flo
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).