Hockey Stick Types: Wood vs. Composite

The Stanley Cup bears the names of such illustrious teams as the Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins and … the Seattle Metropolitans. In the 2023-24 NHL season, Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov was the league's scoring leader with 144 total points. A century earlier, the season's top scorer was Ottawa's Cy Denneny … with 24 total points. The point is that the game has changed quite a lot over the decades. To see it for yourself, you don't have to look any further than its most-important piece of equipment — the stick.

The modern stick's origins are typically traced back to the turn of the 20th century, and those that were carved and sculpted from a single piece of wood. The indigenous Mi'kmaq communities of Nova Scotia are credited with creating many of the earliest wood sticks, which were undoubtedly beautiful but took a lot of time and effort to duplicate. Once industrialization made mass production possible, the days of the hand-hewn hockey stick were practically over.

As the game continued to evolve, so too did the ice hockey stick. Advancements in material science led to the use of artificial composite materials such as fiberglass and carbon fiber. Although composite hockey sticks make up the majority of what's used on the ice today, wooden sticks are still being manufactured. Many players say they perform better with one or the other, but what's best for you? Read on to learn more about the differences between wood vs. composite hockey sticks.

Key Performance Differences

Even if they look to be the same to the naked eye, the composition of your stick can have a big impact on your game. Depending on your position and style of play, a wood stick may be preferable to a composite stick — or the other way around. Here are a few of the key differentiators between the two hockey stick types:

• Shot Velocity: Because they're engineered to provide the maximum level of power transfer to the puck, composite sticks deliver faster, more powerful shots. Check out our post on understanding hockey stick flex to learn more.
• Feel: Many players say the biggest reason why they prefer a wood hockey stick is because it gives them a better feel for the puck, whereas composite sticks are harder to use for puck handling and passing.
• Weight: Thanks to the advanced materials used in their construction, composite sticks are lighter than wood. This means some players find them easier to use on the ice because they can react faster to the pace of play.
• Durability: Even though they're heavier than composite sticks, wooden sticks don't offer the same durability as those made of composite materials. This is especially helpful for defensemen who tend to be harder on their equipment.
• Longevity: Composite materials tend to be longer-lived than their natural counterparts, so sticks made from them can be expected to provide the same level of performance over a longer timeframe.

Caring for Your Stick

Whether you choose a wood or composite stick, it's important to take good care of it to extend its lifespan. A wood stick should be checked periodically for signs of splinters, which need to be removed and patched with stick tape. You also should make sure to keep your wood stick dry when not in use, as excess moisture can cause it to warp or crack.

When it comes to caring for composite sticks, any chips found in the material can be filled with resin and taped to maintain the stick's strength. Make sure to store your sticks properly to prevent them from becoming warped or damaged. Composite materials are less vulnerable to water but should still be kept dry to keep out moisture.

Choosing the Right Stick for Your Game

Another important consideration when choosing between the different types of hockey sticks is their cost. A carbon fiber stick typically is more expensive than a wood stick, so if you have a young player who's just getting into the game a wood stick might be the way to go until he or she commits to the sport full-time. On the other hand, carbon fiber sticks are a good long-term investment for amateur and professional players.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, ultimately there's no right or wrong stick for a player. When choosing between a wood vs. a carbon fiber hockey stick, it all comes down to which one makes you feel more confident on the ice. Everyone has their own unique preferences. Fortunately, ProStockHockey.com has a huge selection of wood and composite sticks so you can choose between old school vs. new school and find your ideal stick. From pro stock hockey sticks sourced right from the professional locker rooms to youth composite hockey sticks that fit younger players, we have it all. We even let you shop hockey tape in bulk so you can experiment with the best way to tape your stick. Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we have to offer.