Street Hockey vs. Ice Hockey Sticks
Should you consider the same points whether you’re buying a street hockey or an ice hockey stick? Not exactly. To choose an ice hockey stick, you’ll consider which stick will perform best and last longest. But choosing a street hockey stick—which you’ll subject again and again to unforgiving outdoor surfaces—you’ll look for a stick that gives you the most bang for your buck.
Key Considerations for Buying a Street Hockey Stick
Key Considerations for Buying an Ice Hockey Stick
- Performance
- Durability
- Size
Street Hockey Stick Details
Choosing the best street hockey stick boils down to considering your wallet. Asphalt and concrete will chew up a street hockey stick blade, so dropping a bunch of money on a high-end twig just doesn’t make much sense. You’ll risk cracking and splintering wood and composite blades on the street, as well. The best street hockey blades are ultra-tough ABS plastic material. In the $15 to $25 range, you can find street hockey sticks with ABS plastic blades and wood or composite shafts.
Some street hockey players take an old wood or composite ice hockey stick with a bad blade and simply add an ABS blade for street play. That’s a great option if you have an old ice hockey stick.
Players who really want to use their ice hockey stick for street hockey without damaging the blade should look into street hockey stick protectors. Products such as the Hockey Wrap Around allow you to fit your ice hockey blade with a plastic guard that protects it from the street surface. There are tradeoffs in weight and feel, but these products do allow you to use your ice hockey stick on the street.
Ice Hockey Stick Details
Sticks used in ice hockey are subjected to much more stress than street hockey sticks, and the quality of the stick shaft and blade can make a big difference in performance and durability. A better quality stick is more likely to reward you with faster shots, better feel of the puck, and a longer life. The right size, shaft flex, and blade profile that suits your game are vastly more important in an ice hockey stick than in a street hockey stick.
While many old ice hockey sticks can be used for street hockey, the reverse is not true. An ABS blade on a street hockey stick would not work for ice hockey because of the weight of the puck and the speed at which it moves on the ice. So if you’re just stepping on the ice one time for fun and don’t want to buy a new stick, sure, use your street hockey stick. But for more frequent play on the ice, you’ll want an ice hockey stick. There really is no comparison between street hockey and ice hockey sticks when it comes to performance, durability, and the quality of materials.