Paul Stewart: Unsafe at Any Speed: Hockey Equipment and the Concussion Issue

Many of us have also been saying this for years. The players are wearing what essentially is body armor from head to toe.

Maybe the players would be less inclined to hit each other so hard if they knew it would also hurt them to deliver the hit.

Maybe less shots would be blocked if players knew it would hurt quite a bit more if they stood there and let shots blast off their less protected shins.

It is no coincidence that the hits have gotten harder and more damaging as it became less and less dangerous to the hitter who delivers the hit.

It is no coincidence that shot blocking is up and goal scoring is down since it became much less dangerous and painful for players to stand in front of 90mph slap shots.

Many of us have also been saying this for years. The players are wearing what essentially is body armor from head to toe.

Maybe the players would be less inclined to hit each other so hard if they knew it would also hurt them to deliver the hit.

Maybe less shots would be blocked if players knew it would hurt quite a bit more if they stood there and let shots blast off their less protected shins.

It is no coincidence that the hits have gotten harder and more damaging as it became less and less dangerous to the hitter who delivers the hit.

It is no coincidence that shot blocking is up and goal scoring is down since it became much less dangerous and painful for players to stand in front of 90mph slap shots.
- MBFlyerfan

I'd even settle for leaving the shin pads the way they are if the upper body padding wasn't essentially weaponry.

EDIT: Also, great blog Mr. Stewart. Like MB said, it's a thought that's been batted around here before.

I'd even settle for leaving the shin pads the way they are if the upper body padding wasn't essentially weaponry.

EDIT: Also, great blog Mr. Stewart. Like MB said, it's a thought that's been batted around here before.
- BulliesPhan87

Change the composite sticks




This is unnecessary and surely the cause of many injuries due to extremely fast pucks. I know pucks can still be shot hard, but less often and there are definitely less of those who can do it.

Change the composite sticks




This is unnecessary and surely the cause of many injuries due to extremely fast pucks. I know pucks can still be shot hard, but less often and there are definitely less of those who can do it.
- mehetmet

Also, seeing players bend them like that makes me self conscious about my inability to perform a slapshot at all.

With regards to the neck guard point; neck guards are more for cut protection than protection against pucks.

I don't think there's a guard made that would protect against the impact of a puck.

Also, seeing players bend them like that makes me self conscious about my inability to perform a slapshot at all.
- BulliesPhan87

With out highjacking the thread too much, a bit of advice; use a lower flex stick. ie. say if you use Easton, use a 65 flex intermediate stick instead of an 85 or 100 flex senior.

i don't see how the new hard capped gear is more cost effective. i just bought a pair of Sher-Wood Vintage 5030 elbow pads with soft caps. they were 30 bucks and pretty much the best soft cap pad out there while top of the line anything else are 100 retail.

and wooden sticks torque as well. take a picture mid shot of Al MacInnis or Ray Bourque and the picture looks just like a comp stick.

With out highjacking the thread too much, a bit of advice; use a lower flex stick. ie. say if you use Easton, use a 65 flex intermediate stick instead of an 85 or 100 flex senior.
- MunsterMike

I'll have to see what flex mine is, although I don't think a replacement is in the budget right now (please don't break please don't break please don't break).

With out highjacking the thread too much, a bit of advice; use a lower flex stick. ie. say if you use Easton, use a 65 flex intermediate stick instead of an 85 or 100 flex senior.
- MunsterMike

good advice. and when you cut down a comp stick it increases the stiffness. but i would not go down to an intermediate stick unless you don't weight more than 140 pounds. do go down in flex though but stay senior.

I'll have to see what flex mine is, although I don't think a replacement is in the budget right now (please don't break please don't break please don't break).
- BulliesPhan87

another option is to buy shafts and replacement blades rather than one piece sticks.

i don't see how the new hard capped gear is more cost effective. i just bought a pair of Sher-Wood Vintage 5030 elbow pads with soft caps. they were 30 bucks and pretty much the best soft cap pad out there while top of the line anything else are 100 retail.

and wooden sticks torque as well. take a picture mid shot of Al MacInnis or Ray Bourque and the picture looks just like a comp stick.
- Fountain-San

Never said they didn't, but they definitely don't as much. Like I said I know some will still be able to shoot hard, but naming 2 people in the history of using wooden sticks that can shoot that hard is far less than those who can shoot as hard today, due to the use of "better" equipment.

What I'm saying is that if there were still wooden sticks, yes some players would have ridiculous shots (Chara no doubt would), however, not everyone would be able to rifle it has hard as they do.

another option is to buy shafts and replacement blades rather than one piece sticks.
- Fountain-San

That's an option. Either way, the execution isn't there. I've only been playing for about a year now, so my slap shot technique, at the moment, usually ends in me falling down.

Never said they didn't, but they definitely don't as much. Like I said I know some will still be able to shoot hard, but naming 2 people in the history of using wooden sticks that can shoot that hard is far less than those who can shoot as hard today, due to the use of "better" equipment.

What I'm saying is that if there were still wooden sticks, yes some players would have ridiculous shots (Chara no doubt would), however, not everyone would be able to rifle it has hard as they do.
- mehetmet

it depends on flex. i really don't think they add MPH. they just let you get the shot of a little quicker.

the wooden era is dead. tennis, golf, lacrosse all use composite now. and it should be that way. the least of league's problems is composite sticks.

That's an option. Either way, the execution isn't there. I've only been playing for about a year now, so my slap shot technique, at the moment, usually ends in me falling down.
- BulliesPhan87

keep at it bud. you'll be fine.

keep at it bud. you'll be fine.
- Fountain-San

I've got Eye of the Tiger cued up, all I need is some ice time and a film crew experienced in doing montages.

Or, y'know, I could just work on my skating to improve my balance.

I've got Eye of the Tiger cued up, all I need is some ice time and a film crew experienced in doing montages.

Or, y'know, I could just work on my skating to improve my balance.
- BulliesPhan87

that's where it starts.

I've got Eye of the Tiger cued up, all I need is some ice time and a film crew experienced in doing montages.

Or, y'know, I could just work on my skating to improve my balance.
- BulliesPhan87

That, and work on your wrist shot first.

Slappers look great and all, but having an accurate wrister will help your game more.

Change the composite sticks




This is unnecessary and surely the cause of many injuries due to extremely fast pucks. I know pucks can still be shot hard, but less often and there are definitely less of those who can do it.
- mehetmet

I hope you're kidding.

good advice. and when you cut down a comp stick it increases the stiffness. but i would not go down to an intermediate stick unless you don't weight more than 140 pounds. do go down in flex though but stay senior.
- Fountain-San

You can find 75/77 flex senior sticks out there. Just harder to locate. It's what I use, since I am tall, but skinny.

Many of us have also been saying this for years. The players are wearing what essentially is body armor from head to toe.

Maybe the players would be less inclined to hit each other so hard if they knew it would also hurt them to deliver the hit.

Maybe less shots would be blocked if players knew it would hurt quite a bit more if they stood there and let shots blast off their less protected shins.

It is no coincidence that the hits have gotten harder and more damaging as it became less and less dangerous to the hitter who delivers the hit.

It is no coincidence that shot blocking is up and goal scoring is down since it became much less dangerous and painful for players to stand in front of 90mph slap shots.
- MBFlyerfan

...You're suggesting to making the shin pads less safe so people would be less inclined to shot block and more bones get broken? What?

Changing the padding on the elbows and shoulder is one thing, but to suggest making shin pads less safe because shot blocking is too high is...idiotic.

You can find 75/77 flex senior sticks out there. Just harder to locate. It's what I use, since I am tall, but skinny.
- Blackstrom2

Yup. i just bought a Warrior Covert 1. got the 100 as i like a stiff stick. you can also get a 85 which is "regular" and a 75 which is considered "whippy". all senior.

by the way the Covert is a sick stick.

Yup. i just bought a Warrior Covert 1. got the 100 as i like a stiff stick. you can also get a 85 which is "regular" and a 75 which is considered "whippy". all senior.

by the way the Covert is a sick stick.
- Fountain-San

I use vapor x40s now. I bought a bunch of them and they've lasted me an unusually long time. I still have one untaped. I'd like to try a new stick, but it's hard to justify spending money on one when I got a bunch of perfectly good ones at home.

I use vapor x40s now. I bought a bunch of them and they've lasted me an unusually long time. I still have one untaped. I'd like to try a new stick, but it's hard to justify spending money on one when I got a bunch of perfectly good ones at home.
- Blackstrom2

well that's just it.

i have a few shaft and blade AK 27's and i wanted a good one piece to see if i liked it as the 2 piece are going the way of the dodo bird.

Another great blog Stewie. And for those who don't remember the difference between the pads we grew up with (or are too young) and today's "armor", here is a stark visual comparison.


The old and the new.