Fedorov's Inno 1100 from the 2002 skills comp

[A_Steeves12 0]

Look at all of the guys who have won the competition OR cracked 100mph. With the exception of Fedorov who used a two-pc stick, they have all been wood users (MacInnis, Iafrate, Blake, SOURAY, Aucoin)

are you talking last year with Souray, if you are he was using a response rubber if i remember correctly

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

One guy. I'm sorry. My theory is crap now, huh?

[Chadd 916]

Look at all of the guys who have won the competition OR cracked 100mph. With the exception of Fedorov who used a two-pc stick, they have all been wood users (MacInnis, Iafrate, Blake, Souray, Aucoin)

Modin hit 100+ in the TB competition a few years in a row. Used a Bauer woody if I remember correctly.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Ah yes, that's the one I forgot about.

There was a similar post on another forum and I mentioned MOdin but forgot about him here.

[A_Steeves12 0]

One guy. I'm sorry. My theory is crap now, huh?

sorry didnt mean it that way i was just saying

[2048 0]

Didn't modano hit 105 or something like that a few years ago at a Stars skills comp? I can't remember him using woods in Dallas at all.

I'd like to say that it's really just form and a coincidence that the guys who hit 100 didn't want to switch stuff up because it worked in the past.

Also, the year LeClair got 100 (used wood), Macinnis topped him with...wood.

[Johnny Confident 0]

I've seen this picture of Fedorov taking a 101mph slapshot in the 2002 skills competition, his stick is literally almost flexed in half. I've always been curious as to what flex he was using, is he use a whippy stick which results in that much flex or is he using a stiff shaft but he's just so strong it flexes that much. Anyone know what flex he was using?

That is an amazing photo. :o

[jimmy 194]

I think one of the primary reason NHL teams went to composites/aluminum years ago was to save $$$$, not for any performance gain. If I recall, I read a NHL equipment manager story a while back where he talked about how a player could go thru 6 woods a game, but a composite may last 2 games (back when composites were strong, not the crap made today). It was pure math, 12 woods vs. 1 composite. Lot less sticks to carry around too

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

If the performance would be better with wood, even if they break a dozen a game, they would all have wood sticks.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Weight and a quicker shot release is why they choose composites.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Look at all of the guys who have won the competition OR cracked 100mph.  With the exception of Fedorov who used a two-pc stick, they have all been wood users (MacInnis, Iafrate, Blake, Souray, Aucoin)

Souray was using a TPS OPS wasn't he?

Souray @ the ASG

[2048 0]

Isn't consistency another reason? Not having to worry that your sticks aren't all the same pattern or that half the sticks are duds is a plus.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

My God, so I screwed up on one.

The point that I am making is that the hard shot guys are still using wood. There's a reason.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think one of the primary reason NHL teams went to composites/aluminum years ago was to save $$$$, not for any performance gain. If I recall, I read a NHL equipment manager story a while back where he talked about how a player could go thru 6 woods a game, but a composite may last 2 games (back when composites were strong, not the crap made today). It was pure math, 12 woods vs. 1 composite. Lot less sticks to carry around too

I saw an interview with Conroy when the Synergy was just hitting the NHL and he said that was the main reason. He said the Synergy would last him a full game where he'd go through 6 woods a game. I think that was a large part of the switch, but the performance is a large reason why they stuck.

[RadioGaGa 162]

My God, so I screwed up on one.

The point that I am making is that the hard shot guys are still using wood. There's a reason.

Sorry JR, I posted that beofre I realized someone had already pointed it out. I wasn't purposely pointing it out a second time.

Neat dynamic though: a woodie and a OPS, same result in hardest shot. Which is more important...good stick...good technique...pure strength...or a combination of the three. Will any one over shadow the others... (ie: can weaker guy with Comp. stick beat the stronger guy with wood?)

[mack 44]

If you took 100 shots with a wood and the same amount with a composite, the initial shorts will be better with the wood but what happens by shot 10, 20 or 30? They're dead and the composite is still going strong. To me that's the main reason they're around. You lose a little in the shot maybe but you more than make up for that with the consistency and performance.

[hockechamp14 0]

My God, so I screwed up on one.

The point that I am making is that the hard shot guys are still using wood. There's a reason.

I disagree with you suggesting that the wood has a better performance. Some guys in the NHL hardly wear shoulderpads (shannahan, the pic of holstrom from earlier). So they have grown up with woods sticks, and be unwilling to change. At least that's my theory. So it's basically all preference and what feels right.

[Chadd 916]

My God, so I screwed up on one. 

The point that I am making is that the hard shot guys are still using wood.  There's a reason.

I disagree with you suggesting that the wood has a better performance. Some guys in the NHL hardly wear shoulderpads (shannahan, the pic of holstrom from earlier). So they have grown up with woods sticks, and be unwilling to change. At least that's my theory. So it's basically all preference and what feels right.

Not really. I was told by one NHL player in particular that he switched to OPS because he didn't want to miss out on whatever benefit the other guys were getting.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

My God, so I screwed up on one. 

The point that I am making is that the hard shot guys are still using wood.  There's a reason.

I disagree with you suggesting that the wood has a better performance. Some guys in the NHL hardly wear shoulderpads (shannahan, the pic of holstrom from earlier). So they have grown up with woods sticks, and be unwilling to change. At least that's my theory. So it's basically all preference and what feels right.

Where exactly did I say that wood provided better performance?

A stiff wood stick will release the puck slower than an OPS but will win out in velocity.

[sherwood21 0]

I love when announcers are like, oh my god another garbage composite stick gone again..when the players are going through that many wood sticks per game.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

The difference is that they could tell when the wood stick was about to go. The OPS breakage is just more dramatic.

[sherwood21 0]

Yes, you are right it's just as a player, I find it funny that they find OPS' to be such garbage when they are best sellers, have created their own industry, and must have boosted the revenues of each and every company by a couple fold.

[Chadd 916]

I don't recall anyone saying that they're garbage, they just aren't the best option for every situation.

Wood has much better feel

Wood generally produces a harder slapshot

Composite is more consistant

Composite generally lasts longer

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think he's referring to the announcers calling them garbage, which on TSN and Mcguire, they did alot.

[Chadd 916]

I think he's referring to the announcers calling them garbage, which on TSN and Mcguire, they did alot.

McGuire is a jackass