What Composites Are Used in Making an Ice Hockey Stick?

The earliest surviving hockey stick, a 19th century ironwood example made by the Mi’kmaq natives of Nova Scotia, has an estimated value of $4.25 million. So great was the demand for these wooden sticks that the Starr Manufacturing Company began producing Birchwood versions of them under the brand name "Mic-Mac" in honor of the original designers. Since then, the search for a better stick has been unceasing. Materials have included carved wood, steam-bent, laminated, aluminum and finally, composites.

  1. Definition

    • The term composites refers to an item made from two or more materials differing in composition or structure. They retain their individual characteristics and act together to create a desired effect. Many composite hockey sticks are made from resin-impregnated woven fibers. Baking the composite materials in a mould hardens them and creates the required physical characteristics. Hockey sticks are also available as a mixture of wood and composite materials.

    Fiberglass

    • Fiberglass consists of fine strands of glass which, when mixed with a resin, provides a lot of strength and rigidity. It is sometimes applied to the head of a wooden stick to reduce wear.

    Aramid/Kevlar

    • Aramid is an extremely strong and flexible synthetic material more commonly known as the "bulletproof" vest material, Kevlar. Hockey sticks made from this material are expensive, but they are extremely light and much stronger than those made from fiberglass.

    Carbon Fiber (Graphite)

    • Carbon fiber is a very popular composite stick type for both professional and amateur players. The nature of the material means that sticks can be made from it that have varying degrees of "flex" and "feel" to suit different playing styles. However, it is expensive and not as durable as some other composites. For these reasons it is often mixed with other materials such as Kevlar.

    Nanotechnology Resin System

    • Patented by Swiss-based Composites Busch SA, the manufacturing technique for this innovative design involves injecting "Araldite NanoTech" resin into a special mold containing a polymer core surrounded by glass and carbon "braids." The makers claim that the resulting stick produces the best balance of strength, flex, stiffness, bend, whip and durability.