Stick Length, past and present

[whcanuck]

Have you guys noticed that sticks have gotten a lot longer over time? You watch a game even from the early 90s, Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Bure, Selanne and Sakic all used short sticks. Like 3 inches below the chin on skates. Even the elite defenders back then, Bourque, Chelios Coffey and Leetch all used short sticks. Peter Forsberg used a real short one if I remember.

I find it's a heck of a lot easier to handle the puck and pass with a shorter stick. Plus I feel it's easier on wrist shots.

But now? Other than guys like Crosby, Malkin and Duchene, everybody seems to have a telephone poll for a hockey stick. Their sticks off skates are at nose level or even eye level. Could this change have happened for defensive purposes? Or because longer composite sticks can unleash harder shots?

Let's hear your guys' thoughts

 

[Killion]

..... to help people out, lets first define stick lengths...

SHORT = At or below the chin .... generally used by Centers, "Danglers", Stickhandlers...
MEDIUM = At or just below the nose .... good length for Wingers, "Diggers" etc....
LONG = Above the eyebrows, mainly used by Defencemen, Defensive Specialist Wingers, greater reach...

So yes, players are using longer sticks given the emphasis on defensive play.

 

[Theokritos]

Have you guys noticed that sticks have gotten a lot longer over time? You watch a game even from the early 90s, Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Bure, Selanne and Sakic all used short sticks. Like 3 inches below the chin on skates. Even the elite defenders back then, Bourque, Chelios Coffey and Leetch all used short sticks. Peter Forsberg used a real short one if I remember.

I find it's a heck of a lot easier to handle the puck and pass with a shorter stick. Plus I feel it's easier on wrist shots.

But now? Other than guys like Crosby, Malkin and Duchene, everybody seems to have a telephone poll for a hockey stick. Their sticks off skates are at nose level or even eye level. Could this change have happened for defensive purposes? Or because longer composite sticks can unleash harder shots?

Let's hear your guys' thoughts

Interestingly when you go back further in time the sticks were actually even longer. From a thread where we were discussing a 1960 NHL game:

Those sticks they used were really made for defense it seemed, I wonder how long it took (or how many players already did) to shorten the sticks a little bit...everyone is like Tobias Enstrom or Olli Maatta out there...the sticks for a lot of forwards seemed about 3 or 4 inches too long and they carried it just a smidge too far out in front of them when they were carrying it at certain points...defense at that time would yield the line if you came with good speed and some east-west movement, so the gaps changed when you crossed each line, I felt like not enough players were able to take advantage of that because the distance from their body in which they carried the puck didn't always reflect the changes in gaps...

Sticks were indeed longer and for good reason. Reach. You were expected to be able to play 2 way hockey Sniper or not. Laneway hockey a game of angles. A short stick a disadvantage on the Backcheck. Being all wood, a longer stick giving you greater flex when shooting, be it a wrist or semi or full slapshot. Centers however back then, they did often keep a shorter stick on the bench, using it for draws, face-offs. Switching back on the fly....

Sticks - longer and as you note for defensive purposes - sweep check, hook check, poke check. Also handy for backhand passing and shooting.