The Evolution of the Hockey Stick

By eshewchy1767
  • Creation of the Hockey Stick

    Creation of the Hockey Stick

    The original Hockey Stick was created between 1852 and 1856.
  • Hespeler Hockey Stick Company Founded

    Hespeler Hockey Stick Company Founded

    One of the largest Hockey company’s to this date was founded.
  • A breakthrough was made in how sticks were made

    A breakthrough was made in how sticks were made

    A change in how sticks were made resulted in much higher quality. The companies started inserted the joint into the shaft, before gluing them together.
  • Conn Smythe

    Conn Smythe

    In 1942, Conn Smythe, the then Maple Leafs owner, demanded his entire team used a custom made CCM Stick.
  • Manufacturers Start Wrapping Blades in fibreglass

    Manufacturers Start Wrapping Blades in fibreglass

    This played a big role in how hockey sticks changed over time.
  • Manufactureers Started to Curve Blades

    Manufactureers Started to Curve Blades

    Stan Mikita asked the question, could you shoot the puck with a curved blade? The answer was yes, and it changed how hockey sticks were made forever.
  • Sher-Wood and other companies switched from hardwood, to Fibreglass Hockey Sticks

    Sher-Wood and other companies switched from hardwood, to Fibreglass Hockey Sticks

    This change made hockey sticks better to use, and allowed companies to save money on manufacturing.
  • Sher-Wood PMP 5030

    Sher-Wood PMP 5030

    The Sher-Wood PMO 5030 was one of the most popular hockey sticks ever sold/ produced. It would eventually be called "the greatest stick to ever be produced" said Guy Lafleur.
  • Wayne Gretzky and the Titan company

    Wayne Gretzky and the Titan company

    Wayne Gretzky and Titan became endorsement partners, which eventually lead to the incredibly popular Titan TPM 2020 hockey stick. Which eventually became Wayne Gretzky's favourite stick.
  • Gretzky Signs with Easton

    Gretzky Signs with Easton

    Lured by a 6 digit contract with Easton, Gretzky decided to sign with Easton to help endorse the new HXP 5100 aluminum shafted stick. Gretzky helped to popularize the new type of hockey sticks used by professional athletes.
  • Composite Blades

    Composite Blades

    Paul Kariya scores 50 goals with the new type of blade on hockey sticks, which were composite.
  • Composite Sticks Introduced

    Composite Sticks Introduced

    Easton adapted from customer feedback and changed the materials that their sticks were made of from half hardwood and composite, to pure composite.
  • Uprising in composite stick prices

    Uprising in composite stick prices

    Composite sticks became so popular that companies raised the prices so drastically. ($50 then, $100 now, on average)
  • Composite Sticks Begin to Dominate The Market

    Composite Sticks Begin to Dominate The Market

    With composite sticks becoming easier and easier to manufacture, companies decide to switch the entirety of sticks to composites.
  • Wood Sticks in the NHL

    Wood Sticks in the NHL

    Though wood sticks have almost been obsoleted, some players, like Ryan Smith, still use wooden sticks.
  • Composite Sticks become the only sticks in the NHL

    Composite Sticks become the only sticks in the NHL

    All players stop using wooden sticks at the beginning of the 2017 NHL season. Some people considered this a new way, and didn't like the new change.