Joe Garry
I get a lot of questions about appropriate sticks for young players. One of the most frequent questions is between youth and junior sticks. Here’s my take on it.
When a child is very young, under the age of 7, I believe it is beneficial to use a youth stick. Youth sticks are definitely lighter in weight and the shaft is thinner, which is better for small hands. After a child reaches age 8, I believe it is a matter of trial and error, and preference. What I have witnessed with the students I train (older than 8) and my own children is that their shots are harder and they can stickhandle better with junior sticks. This is likely because the blade of a junior stick is longer and that little extra length makes a world of difference. Flex is not an issue with regards to shot because the flex is changed when you cut down a stick to fit the child. What makes a great shot when children are young is proper technique.
What I would do is go out and buy your son or daughter a decent junior stick. While it may be tempting to just buy this year’s model, you can buy an older model for half the price and it will still be a great stick, very light, and help their shot. The key here is very light! I hear a lot of parents say, “what’s the point of an expensive stick, I’ll just buy him a wooden one or a less expensive composite.” Wooden and less expensive composite sticks are heavier and they really inhibit a young players ability to handle the stick properly. In essence, you are killing technical ability from the start. This is similar to giving a child a bat that is way too heavy and expecting him/her to hit a baseball well.
Secret Hint – There are all sorts of discount stores online that have great deals on older model sticks. Sites like Pure Hockey, Hockey Giant, Total Hockey, and Hockey Monkey all carry brands and models from previous years. Also walk into the locker rooms of older youth teams. Often parents have multiple sticks lying around the house and are willing to just give them away or part with them at a fraction of the original price. Never hurts to ask, and inquiring will probably spark a conversation on other gently used equipment. I have given away tons of new and gently used sticks and other equipment over the years.
*There are new sticks coming onto the market that claim they are perfect for kids 50-100 lbs with a flex as low as 20. At this time, there is not enough empirical data to validate the claims. It is my belief that flex alone will not give a player a perfect shot. I believe it is a combination of technique and flex of a stick with technique being the most important at a younger age.