Blacked Out Sticks in NHL

[MJDhcky9 0]

Ive seen more and more blacked out or spraypainted bottom of sticks in the NHL lately. Does anyone have a clue as to why this is so popular at the pro level?

[Medic 0]

Apparently it helps to hide the puck from the goalie. Not sure if I buy it, but it might give some shooters a mental edge. Plus, there's always superstition to back it up!

[voss 0]

i think they use some kind of special paint that strengthens the shaft and protects against slashes and etc

[Gongshow11 1]

i think they use some kind of special paint that strengthens the shaft and protects against slashes and etc

no they dont its PP to hide the puck

[Fire0nIce228 1]

For me its a distraction thing. The only reason I do it is because I used Vapor XX's for a full season and darker sticks the season before that, so when I get a stick like the Synergy SL or another stick that is bright colored it would throw me off when I would glance down at the puck. So I just black out the bottom half and it distracts me less.

[avs9119 0]

on the rangers website they have 2 videos about what the equipment managers do and one part shows jagr painting the bottom of his stick and the equip. manager says most guys like having just a black blade without seeing silver and stuff. if you want to watch them go to newyorkrangers.com then click the "on demand" button on the right side. then click "rangers world" on the top and both videos are on the 8th page.

[TBLfan 25]

it varies from player to player, some reasons are legitimate some... not soo much but it all comes down to personal preference.

[daca 0]

i do it with wood blades and it seems to help a little bit. not a big deal.

[Doctor Hook 0]

on the rangers website they have 2 videos about what the equipment managers do and one part shows jagr painting the bottom of his stick and the equip. manager says most guys like having just a black blade without seeing silver and stuff. if you want to watch them go to newyorkrangers.com then click the "on demand" button on the right side. then click "rangers world" on the top and both videos are on the 8th page.

Thanks for the link, I love behind the scenes vids like that. I know equipment guys work hard, but damn, even I was tired after watching that.

[slapshotsteve73 0]

For me its a distraction thing. The only reason I do it is because I used Vapor XX's for a full season and darker sticks the season before that, so when I get a stick like the Synergy SL or another stick that is bright colored it would throw me off when I would glance down at the puck. So I just black out the bottom half and it distracts me less.

That would be my guess, for example Marc Savard spray-paints his Mac Daddy pretty high up and it seems like the patterns on it (similar to my dolomite) are sort of distracting..

[avs9119 0]

nylander does his macdaddy really high up

[Hazard14 0]

im prettysure that TBLFans avatar pic is somebody setting there stick on fire after painting it so that the bottom is comptletley black, that equipment manager vid has somebody doing it if i remember correctly

[kovalchuk71 212]

Dries the paint faster

[bombit 0]

Is it just generic spray paint that they use?

[wickedlite44 0]

Is it just generic spray paint that they use?

yes, theres nothing special about it.

[slapshotsteve73 0]

im prettysure that TBLFans avatar pic is somebody setting there stick on fire after painting it so that the bottom is comptletley black, that equipment manager vid has somebody doing it if i remember correctly

Derek Roy

[joshy207 15]

The spray paint increases shot velocity and accuracy. Also makes the stick lighter.

(not really)

[Sven 1]

I sprayed my stick down low as well and i got this very pic in my mind so i took a lighter and set it on fire and it went wrong, ha ha. I had nasty bubbles and stuff, but the flame was less then 2 seconds on the stick. Well i took a paper and wiped it off and tried again.. now its quite ok. If you are untalented, i dont recommend it.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

You don't have twenty minutes to let the stick air dry? I don't understand lighting paint on fire.

[forbs02 20]

on the rangers website they have 2 videos about what the equipment managers do and one part shows jagr painting the bottom of his stick and the equip. manager says most guys like having just a black blade without seeing silver and stuff. if you want to watch them go to newyorkrangers.com then click the "on demand" button on the right side. then click "rangers world" on the top and both videos are on the 8th page.

Thanks so much for the video! It was great to see how the guys in the big leagues do it.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Did I just hear Beets say "A couple of Cope Blacks later?"

[davis 0]

Did I just hear Beets say "A couple of Cope Blacks later?"

That's what I heard too, JR. Those fellas have the sweetest job in the universe.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Not really.

It's hard...it really is.

I did it for a week with NSH and we didn't go anywhere - was part of the plane unloading and all that when they came in though.

[davis 0]

I'm sure it's hard, and the work days are super-long, and that the constant travel takes it's toll. But just fooling around with hockey gear all day, hangin out with the players, prepping equipment.....sounds like an flippin' awesome time.

On topic though, wouldn't a heat gun be just as fast/almost as fan as lighting the stick on fire, as well as bein a little less redo-prone?

[forbs02 20]

I'm sure it's hard, and the work days are super-long, and that the constant travel takes it's toll. But just fooling around with hockey gear all day, hangin out with the players, prepping equipment.....sounds like an flippin' awesome time.

On topic though, wouldn't a heat gun be just as fast/almost as fan as lighting the stick on fire, as well as bein a little less redo-prone?

Yeah, but the torch doesn't need to be plugged in. You can use it anywhere... outlets are sometimes a pain to find in a rink.