Just as each player has his own preference when it comes to sharpening his skates, each player prefers his own customized stick.
Players develop their preferences for sticks over the course of their careers.
The differences between the sticks can be significant. It is all very personalized and the players themselves spend many hours preparing their own sticks. High-Tech Hockey Newer materials continue to make inroads into the game of hockey. Graphite, carbon- graphite, and aluminum shafts and sticks provide strength and generally weigh less than wooden sticks. Some players believe that they shoot better and stick-handle better due to the new materials.