Interesting article on Adam Oates and (his players') sticks

[AlphaSierra 1]

There was another article from last years camp that I cannot find. It said Oates has a bunch of sticks in different lies (assuming the Stamkos curve from the other articles) that he has the players try out if he notices anything on film. One of the guys in particular mentioned the change in lie helped him keep the blade flat againt the ice in his breakout stride which helped with the puck control. Oates pointed out on the film to him that heading up ice he was getting an unstable puck or it was slipping under the rocker of the blade because his lie was wrong for his stance. As a lot of the different articles are mentioning, I think Oates is going for small changes in lie to assist with puck control, passing, picking the puck off the boards etc. And I think we (average Joe) lost that ability to tweak our game, or our kids, with the introduction of composite sticks.Back in the day I used to play with the curve, shave the lie, and send in patterns to get a dozen blades made to my sp[ecs. Now if I know I like a particular curve, the lie might not be right and I am stuck with it.

[DLK 0]

Thanks for posting this, it was indeed an interesting read.

While I have to imagine changing the stick will not gain you all that much (chasing that last one or two percent, as it were), it does bring up a bit of a question - at what point do you adjust the equipment to match your technique instead of adjusting your technique to maximize the abilities of the equipment?

Do you adjust the angle you present your blade to the ice or buy a stick with a different lie? Teach yourself the art of follow-through and rolling your wrists, or just buy a blade with an open face?

I've always been a believer in the idea that it's the technique should be adjusted, but I suppose that's rather a different matter for someone who has been playing professionally for ten years.

[flip12 715]

You can't play hockey when you're bent over like a speed skater. That form should only be used for a stride or two at a time in order to generate speed, not all the time.

I fully agree with that.

All skating instructors will tell you that a straight back is better for skating than a hunched back.

I was simply challenging this--it's not "better for skating" but better for skating while puck controlling and performing continual play analysis.

[chippa13 1844]

Even a speed skater's back is straight. All of their bending is done at the knees and waist.

[Chadd 916]

Let's not confuse straight and upright.

[flip12 715]

Even a speed skater's back is straight. All of their bending is done at the knees and waist.

They also bend significantly at the ankles. At 2:36 he explains what I was referring to. I was reading elsewhere that this position might not be possible for everyone due to differences in individual anatomy, but at least can be considered an ideal form to aim for.

Let's not confuse straight and upright.

I think that's a good point. You can still skate upright, but have that curl which brings your core muscles into alignment with each stride. Brady Skjei skates like that.

[masshky 1]

There was another article from last years camp that I cannot find. It said Oates has a bunch of sticks in different lies (assuming the Stamkos curve from the other articles) that he has the players try out if he notices anything on film. One of the guys in particular mentioned the change in lie helped him keep the blade flat againt the ice in his breakout stride which helped with the puck control. Oates pointed out on the film to him that heading up ice he was getting an unstable puck or it was slipping under the rocker of the blade because his lie was wrong for his stance. As a lot of the different articles are mentioning, I think Oates is going for small changes in lie to assist with puck control, passing, picking the puck off the boards etc. And I think we (average Joe) lost that ability to tweak our game, or our kids, with the introduction of composite sticks.Back in the day I used to play with the curve, shave the lie, and send in patterns to get a dozen blades made to my sp[ecs. Now if I know I like a particular curve, the lie might not be right and I am stuck with it.

Similarly, the LA Kings equip mgr keeps Warrior samples ranging from lie 2 to lie 7 (1:05 mark)..

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=67883

[joshy207 15]

At least he isn't recommending that they chop off the toe of the blade like he would do with his sticks.

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