7/10/2023 0 Comments Latin for stick em up![]() “The two-piece stick is kind of becoming a dinosaur like the wood stick. “It seems like everybody now is more or less going to a one-piece stick,” Latin said. In the NHL, all-wood sticks gave way to two-piece models in the 1990s, but both have been replaced with one-piece sticks made from a variety of composites that make them lighter and more flexible. “With the wood blade, I can feel the puck more.” “I like it to be a little heavier on the bottom so I can feel the puck more,” he said. Crosby uses a Sher-Wood Momentum graphite shaft with a Sher-Wood Axiom wood blade. We’ve seen that with the chances that he’s had this year.”Īnother trait that makes Crosby’s stick so unusual is that it is a two-piece model. He doesn’t seem to have any problem on his forehand getting it up pretty quickly also. “Around the net, if the puck’s on his backhand, he can get it up pretty quickly. “Obviously, he can handle the puck both ways,” he said. Latin has not noticed Crosby being at a disadvantage because of the straight blade. I think passing and my backhand are more important.” “You kind of lose a little bit of an edge shooting without the curve, but you have to pick what you want to work on and know your strengths. “It’s better for the backhand and passing – the puck doesn’t usually roll up on you too much,” he said. That’s why Crosby likes the straight blade – it’s more versatile. However, bending blades in one direction or the other to gain an advantage with the forehand takes away from what a player can do with his backhand. ![]() The straight blade is not common in the NHL because many players, constantly searching for any possible advantage, bend their blades outward from the heel to the toe in order to enhance shooting accuracy. I have always stuck with that and learned how to use it.” I don’t really like to change things up, equipment-wise. “I guess that’s the best way to describe it – old school,” Crosby said with a laugh. So, while Crosby represents the next generation of hockey stars, he reverts to the past for his main instrument – a stick that looks like it came right off the “Slap Shot” movie set. He’s used the same style of blade since he was 13. It’s a very small curve, that’s for sure. “You don’t see a lot of guys with that,” said John Maximos, a sales coordinator for Sher-Wood Drolet – the company that supplies Crosby’s sticks and blades. It has probably been at least that long since someone in the NHL has used a straight-blade stick similar to Crosby’s. ![]() Keon wrapped up his distinguished career in 1982. This kid comes in – it’s almost like a Dave Keon stick it’s so straight.” “It seems like every kid coming in the league either has the weirdest-looking hook on a stick you’ve ever seen like a John LeClair or the biggest hook you’ve ever seen like a Jaromir Jagr. “To be honest with you, I can’t remember the last time I saw one of those,” said Latin, who is in his 18th season overseeing the Penguins’ gear. There’s no wicked curve on the blade – it bends only slightly near the toe. Sidney Crosby uses a unique two-piece hockey stick with a blade that’s nearly straight. So why was the Penguins’ equipment manager, a veteran of more than 2,000 NHL games, surprised when he came into Pittsburgh’s equipment room at the start of training camp?
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