Real players equipment and blade preferences

[Thesensation19*]

I heard that real pros dont use the exact blade pattern you see in retail markets. Crosby for example I heard uses a pretty flat blade but his stick pattern has quite a toe curve.

Anywhere to obtain real info on players blade preference, stick preference and overall equip ment preference. Especially blade pattern

 

[TheeNorthStar]

You heard right.

Brands use names of players for "marketing" purposes but its also easier to distinguish curves.

There is no data base to see what every player really uses on the ice but if you simply google something like "Crosby Pro stock curve" or something along those lines, you'd see what they really use.

 

[Thesensation19*]

You would think someone would have done a website or some kind of crazy research by now to have a lot of this info under one page. Not having to do insane research to see a certain players preffered elbow pad, or blade pattern.

Out of 1000000000 pics of Crosby or his sticks... only a handful show his actual blade. Would love to see someone make a site where it keeps record of these things and players equipment or blade changes.

 

[Jarick]

There used to be a site called Pattern DB but it's down now.

 

[Loyal2TheOil]

The problem is that sticks are very personal for many players. Even if a player is lucky to have a company make sticks to their specifications, there is a lot of tweaking that goes on. There are some youtube videos for players like Brooks Laich, Ryan Smyth, Petr Sykora modifying their sticks after they receive a shipment. Jason Spezza is another example of a guy shaving down his stick and modifying it constantly. It makes it difficult to keep a track of what they actually use. Not to mention some players will borrow a teammate's stick and then suddenly change their preferences, and others will paint their sticks. For example, a friend of mine got a hold of one of Andrew Cogliano's sticks which was an SE16 painted as a EQ50. I've also heard that Alex Ovechkin was using a supreme one95 painted as a CCM U+ CL.

 

[AIREAYE]

The problem is that sticks are very personal for many players. Even if a player is lucky to have a company make sticks to their specifications, there is a lot of tweaking that goes on. There are some youtube videos for players like Brooks Laich, Ryan Smyth, Petr Sykora modifying their sticks after they receive a shipment. Jason Spezza is another example of a guy shaving down his stick and modifying it constantly. It makes it difficult to keep a track of what they actually use. Not to mention some players will borrow a teammate's stick and then suddenly change their preferences, and others will paint their sticks. For example, a friend of mine got a hold of one of Andrew Cogliano's sticks which was an SE16 painted as a EQ50. I've also heard that Alex Ovechkin was using a supreme one95 painted as a CCM U+ CL.

Great points all around; there is no point in making something like this. No benefits whatsoever. Your last point bolded though, is incorrect. He did use a One95 for a bit, but companies never paint over each other to the best of my knowledge.

 

[nullterm]

Great points all around; there is no point in making something like this. No benefits whatsoever. Your last point bolded though, is incorrect. He did use a One95 for a bit, but companies never paint over each other to the best of my knowledge.

Actually they do. If a player has a sponsorship deal, they can actually repaint or dress up the gear to look like their product. Sticks, skates, goalie pads, etc.

Keep in mind, if you buy a certain blade pattern with a pro's name on it, that curve might not look at all what the pro actually uses. Pros can get custom patterns and sticks made to suit their needs.

They change the names on the patterns, but the pattern stays the exact same. Sakic became the Hall. Ovechkin (CCM) became Nugent-Hopkins, after Ovechkin switched to selling Bauer.

 

[God]

Here's Ben Eager's curve. I saw a pro stock in a store the other day and thought the stick was broken. Guess it makes it easier to hook people when he stops skating.

 

[AIREAYE]

Actually they do. If a player has a sponsorship deal, they can actually repaint or dress up the gear to look like their product. Sticks, skates, goalie pads, etc.

Keep in mind, if you buy a certain blade pattern with a pro's name on it, that curve might not look at all what the pro actually uses. Pros can get custom patterns and sticks made to suit their needs.

They change the names on the patterns, but the pattern stays the exact same. Sakic became the Hall. Ovechkin (CCM) became Nugent-Hopkins, after Ovechkin switched to selling Bauer.

I think you misread my post. Companies do not paint over each other's products. You will not see a 'true' Bauer stick painted like a CCM for example.

 

[sherwood sniper]

I think you misread my post. Companies do not paint over each other's products. You will not see a 'true' Bauer stick painted like a CCM for example.

He understood you....

They absolutely paint over, re-brand, whatever you want to call it. Its pretty common.

Hell, you wouldn't believe what goes on in the goalie market. All sorts of pads get re-skinned to look like another manufacturer.

 

[AIREAYE]

He understood you....

They absolutely paint over, re-brand, whatever you want to call it. Its pretty common.

Hell, you wouldn't believe what goes on in the goalie market. All sorts of pads get re-skinned to look like another manufacturer.

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/38978-repainted-sticks/

Are you talking about Simmons? They don't get re-skinned, he has the specs and if you want a particular Vaughn pad, say, a Velocity, he builds it to spec. He doesn't go to the store/factory and dresses a Velocity to look like his product.

 

[jsykes]

He understood you....

They absolutely paint over, re-brand, whatever you want to call it. Its pretty common.

Hell, you wouldn't believe what goes on in the goalie market. All sorts of pads get re-skinned to look like another manufacturer.

They do not do it with sticks. Maybe if he were using an off the shelf stick that CCM could go to the store and buy a bunch of then paint over to give him, but there is no way in hell that Bauer would build Ovi a custom One95 to allow CCM to pain their graphics on top of it. It serves no purpose and its not like they need the sale.

 

[AIREAYE]

They do not do it with sticks. Maybe if he were using an off the shelf stick that CCM could go to the store and buy a bunch of then paint over to give him, but there is no way in hell that Bauer would build Ovi a custom One95 to allow CCM to pain their graphics on top of it. It serves no purpose and its not like they need the sale.

Thanks.

I'll reference these 2 threads here as well : http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62004-repaints/
http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/30189-malkin-usin-a-dressed-up-dolomite/

 

[29Potvins]

I definitely remember reading about AO using non-CCM sticks near the end of his contract with them. I also remember reading about him painting over sticks. And it appears it's just that... he just painted over logos, not had them repainted as another brand.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ways-with-ccm/2011/08/03/gIQAT25HsI_blog.html

It's been well documented over the years that Ovechkin wasn't always happy with the sticks CCM has provided for his use. During my time covering the Caps, I recall him occasionally experimenting with sticks from other manufacturers, and sometimes attempting to hide the fact by spray painting over the logo. I am told, though, that he used CCM sticks exclusively from the end of the 2009-10 season through the end of last season.

 

[nullterm]

They do not do it with sticks. Maybe if he were using an off the shelf stick that CCM could go to the store and buy a bunch of then paint over to give him, but there is no way in hell that Bauer would build Ovi a custom One95 to allow CCM to pain their graphics on top of it. It serves no purpose and its not like they need the sale.

If a player has a stash of custom sticks (keep in mind some could go through 100+ a season) and then sign a deal with a different brand, you don't think the new brand could say "Send us your sticks you already love, we'll paint em like ours and throw ya a few dozen grand for the advertising."

Players are notoriously superstitious. If Ovi comes to you and says I will endorse your gear, but I want to keep my One90 because it works for me, wouldn't you just get out the spray paint and stickers?

 

[AIREAYE]

If a player has a stash of custom sticks (keep in mind some could go through 100+ a season) and then sign a deal with a different brand, you don't think the new brand could say "Send us your sticks you already love, we'll paint em like ours and throw ya a few dozen grand for the advertising."

Players are notoriously superstitious. If Ovi comes to you and says I will endorse your gear, but I want to keep my One90 because it works for me, wouldn't you just get out the spray paint and stickers?

No, they don't. Players can spray paint their sticks black and write 'Bauer' in silver sharpie if they so choose, but companies won't redress other brands or allow their own sticks to be redressed.

That's it.

 

[jsykes]

Players are notoriously superstitious. If Ovi comes to you and says I will endorse your gear, but I want to keep my One90 because it works for me, wouldn't you just get out the spray paint and stickers?

No, they'd just let him endorse all the other gear and keep using the sticks. There are a lot of levels of endorsement.

Think about it. Bauer wouldnt stand for it. If I knew you were painting my product to look like yours, you can be damn sure I'm going to pursue legal action against you.

Ford cant buy a Camaro and put a Ford logo on it. Nike isnt going to let you take a New Balance and paint the swoosh on it.

Aside from misrepresenting the product, logos are copyrighted property and the unauthorized use of the logo is a serious legal issue and you can bet Bauer isnt letting CCM use their logo.

 

[Jarick]

From what I recall (from MSH), CCM was not happy with Ovy when he was using the One95, but Ovy used the gear he wanted because he was lighting it up. CCM changed a bunch of things around and he want back to them the following year, but bolted for Bauer when his contract was up.

I haven't heard or seen of companies outright putting their logo over somebody else's product. You'll see guys using one model painted like another all the time, like a Total One painted to look like a Nexus or whatever. Hell, Mark Savard and Ryan Smyth used to use Warrior sticks with a design that didn't line up with any retail products.

 

[romdj]

From what I recall (from MSH), CCM was not happy with Ovy when he was using the One95, but Ovy used the gear he wanted because he was lighting it up. CCM changed a bunch of things around and he want back to them the following year, but bolted for Bauer when his contract was up.

I haven't heard or seen of companies outright putting their logo over somebody else's product. You'll see guys using one model painted like another all the time, like a Total One painted to look like a Nexus or whatever. Hell, Mark Savard and Ryan Smyth used to use Warrior sticks with a design that didn't line up with any retail products.

Ovi is never happy with his performance, equipment is 10% of the solution max.
Saint-louis stick isn't marketed to go your way.

 

[Joey Moss]

I think the only pattern on the market that similar as what the player actually uses is Dion Phaneuf's curve. Kind of interesting how many players in the NHL use a heel curve. I for one, have way too much trouble controlling my shot with a heel curve. I guess if you get used to it, it's a wicked curve for shooting. Puck just flies off the stick.