The Importance of Properly Breaking in Hockey Gloves Hockey gloves don't start out fitting like a glove. Before they start providing you with the grip and protection your hands need on the ice, you need to get them broken in so they feel like a part of you. Otherwise, it can feel less like you're wearing a glove meant to elevate your level of play and more like you're wearing an oven mitt. The last thing you want when you're skating up to the face-off circle or rearing back for a slap shot is to feel like your hands are encased in blocks of cement. That's why knowing how to break in hockey glo ..read more

As a goalie, you need to be able to react at the speed of thought to stop all the quick wristers and booming slap shots that come your way. Your gear needs to feel comfortable and act as an extension of your own body, or else you could be fumbling with it when you should be making the play. Nowhere is this more true than when talking about your goalie glove. Breaking in a new hockey goalie glove is important if you want to be at your best between the pipes. Not only does it ensure it will feel comfortable on your hand, but it also means you'll be able to close it around the puck securely so yo ..read more

As a goalie, you need to be able to react at the speed of thought to stop all the quick wristers and booming slap shots that come your way. Your gear needs to feel comfortable and act as an extension of your own body, or else you could be fumbling with it when you should be making the play. Nowhere is this more true than when talking about your goalie glove. Breaking in a new hockey goalie glove is important if you want to be at your best between the pipes. Not only does it ensure it will feel comfortable on your hand, but it also means you'll be able to close it around the puck securely so yo ..read more

Statement of the obvious - I am a hockey fanatic and obsessed equipment gearhead. I pinch myself that I get paid to be the marketing manager at ProStockHockey.com and my job is to obsess about all things hockey. Prior to this job, I was already obsessed about all things hockey but didn’t get paid to do it – huge bonus! So, like many other hockey players, I had a normal non-hockey day job and would feed my passion outside of my work. Part of my outlet was a Twitter (now “X”) account where I tracked and commented on the sticks and gear of NHL players. Unbeknownst to me at the time, one of my few ..read more

When you reach more-competitive levels of play, it’s important that your equipment feels like an extension of yourself. You want to have faith that your stick will handle the puck the way you expect it to if you want to have success on the ice. This is why most players are very particular about the type of stick they use. One of the most important aspects when choosing a stick is its kick point, also known as the flex point. This is the area of the shaft that bends when shooting or passing the puck. It serves as the fulcrum and helps transfer power from the player into the puck. A stick’s kick ..read more

Skill on the ice is what ultimately distinguishes a great hockey player from the rest of the pack, but you shouldn’t overlook the importance of having the right gear. Not every hockey stick will give the same level of performance, and it’s critical that players know and understand what each stick brings to their game. This includes the length of the stick as well as the curve of the blade, but there’s also a flex rating found on most modern sticks. What is hockey stick flex, and what does it mean for you when choosing a new stick? What Is Hockey Stick Flex? Anyone who’s experienced a cross-ch ..read more

When you’re shopping around for a new hockey stick, its curve may be one of the last things you notice. If you overlook it, however, you could be hurting your game without even knowing it. That’s because a hockey stick’s curve can have a significant impact on how you perform on the ice, and you need to keep that in mind when gearing up for your next game. For example, if you’re a defenseman that handles the puck more often than taking a shot, you’ll probably want a different curve than you would if you were a forward. If you’re not certain what your stick’s curve can do for you, read on for a ..read more

If you’re new to hockey, no doubt you want to do things right. Figuring out how to tape your hockey stick can be a bit of a sticky situation. If you’re a seasoned player, you know two things when it comes to taping your hockey stick. Fresh tape enhances your performance; and you want tacky tape, not a tacky tape job. Ultimately, there are no rules when it comes to how to tape a hockey stick. It’s a personal preference thing. Taping your hockey stick is a personal alchemy that’s part comfort, part style, and part performance. But there are basics — for instance, how often should you tape your ..read more

There aren’t a lot of similarities between Adin Hill and Tiger Woods. Hill was born in Comox, British Columbia, Canada in 1996. Woods in Cypress, California in 1975. While Hill likely golfs in the offseason, he plays hockey professionally. Woods, meanwhile, has 110 professional wins, including 82 on the PGA Tour (tied for first all time). Recently, though, Hill did something similar to Woods. By now you’ve seen Hill's unbelievable stick save to keep Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final tied at 1. At the time of writing this post, the video has 60k+ views — and that is only on NHL's clip. There ..read more

The first thing we need to acknowledge is that the word “best” is, well, fairly subjective and usually based off personal opinions. This list isn’t about which hockey stick is the lightest, the most durable or has the “best” overall aesthetics – this list is about the facts. Our list is ranked by usage among active NHL players during the 2020-21 NHL season. Let’s jump into it. #5. Warrior Alpha DX – 47 active NHL players To be fair, if we were to combine the number of NHL players using the Alpha DX and the Alpha DX SL, it would firmly take the #4 spot with 79 total users – but this is abo ..read more