Game Used Stick Question

[kuzniar42]

Hey all,

I'm a bit of a rookie when it comes to game used stuff. My main question is how long does a player normally use a stick? I'm sure they go through a bunch of them through the season. Do they use a new one every game or use them till they break or become unlucky? I got a Hossa game used stick that I know is authentically game used I have a few. The part that puzzles me is just how long it might have been used for. There are three elements that are consistent throughout model ccm and color of stick, Hoss 81 name plate, warranty sticker on stick. The stick was taped at least twice it appears. Here are some of the pictures which stretches from the 2011-12 all star game to around the beginning of the 2012-13 season.

[creasecollector]

How long would really depend, as there's no set time limit with these things. Plus the style of play, the type/flex of the stick, player preferences and fluke incidents on the ice would contribute to the life of these sticks or when they decide to switch it up for another stick on the bench. I have a family member who's going into his first pro season this year. He goes through many, many sticks and switches the ones he uses often. But that's just him. Hard to put a firm timeline on it. So many variables. Great stick though! :)

On average (best guess), I would say a week or two with a stick at the NHL level. Could be more, but it could be less.

[Sharky94]

As crease says, it all depends on the player. I sit right across from the Caps' sticks at Verizon center, so I see how often they change up. For someone like Ovechkin, he breaks them so often, he probably never has one for more than a couple games. Other guys who don't shoot as hard will go 2-3 weeks without busting a stick. Then you have the guys who switch up because one is "unlucky" or something -- a player with a brand new stick misses a wide open net, and he immediately comes back to the bench and switches it and will never use that one again. Then you might have someone with a "lucky" stick, and he only brings it out for big games, so it might last him all season or longer. Karl Alzner, I know, switches his stick up each period! I have never watched closely enough to see if it's a new stick, or if he just has "1st period" sticks that are different from "2nd period" sticks, etc. And in general, centers will normally go through sticks quicker than wingers, simply because faceoffs take a big toll on sticks.

So, could be all season, could be 3 minutes...

[kuzniar42]

Thanks guys