The Hockey Stick Sham

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The Hockey Stick Sham







Most of the sticks I used to buy always had "Fabrique au Canada (Made in Canada)" painted onto the stick. However, as I scrutinized the Zetterberg stick, I saw "Made in China" printed on the sticker (Notice that it was on the sticker, which you discard, as opposed to the stick itself.). Furthermore, many of the other composites had "Made in Mexico" on their tags. Suddenly, I was filled with a deep rage, which has yet to subside.


Although neither culture has done much else to embrace the sport, I don't mean to disparage the good Mexicans and Chinese who made these overpriced twigs. My anger has nothing to do with where the things are made. So don't even start with the jingoism rap.


"So what's with the unchecked aggression, here?" you ask. It is because, whenever I bought a stick with "Fabrique au Canada" on it, I assumed some Canadian was making a decent wage because of it. I would spend $20 on a piece of lumber and fiberglass but never lose any sleep over buying it.


Not so anymore. Anymore, I get the sense I'm paying a buttload of money to an increasingly consolidated group of CEOs and investors. Get a load of this:










Maybe the initial investment in the new machinery and stick factories keeps the prices ridiculous. (I'm trying to be fair here, aren't I?) But after ten years of production, I find it hard to believe that these corporations are still paying for these machines. The reality is is that the head honchos of Nike, Reebok, and Easton are laughing all the way to their Swiss banks.




Hockey is already an expensive sport to play, what with the cost of ice time and liability concerns (read: a bunch of other crap that you won't understand until you're older). Just know that the price to play is by far the biggest barrier for kids around the world, and the increasing price of equipment can only hurt the game. And then remember that all the money and technology in the world will never make you as good as Sidney Crosby or Henrik Zetterberg.


The point for all the professionals that get paid to use this stuff.... Before your next game, consider all the needy kids who idolize you, and then squeeze hundreds of dollars out of their parents for the "latest and greatest" in stick technology.




And now for something completely different....


The stick that gave me the wickedest wrist shot of my life:






Easton T-Flex 95 Aluminum with a wooden Steve Yzerman blade—When I was fourteen-years-old, I clocked an 81 mph slap shot with that stick. An honorary "most vicious slash" award also goes to this stick. I always got my two minutes worth with the T-Flex, may it rest in peace.



(very awesome photo by Melanie Scott of Toronto) 

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