Articles
The questions that matter before you buy hockey gear.
We cover sticks, skates, helmets and protective gear. Each article works from manufacturer documents, several independent voices and player discussions, with facts kept separate from preference.
Articles
Latest articles
Stick fit and player development
Junior sticks: how to know when the flex is too high
A practical guide to recognizing a junior stick that is too stiff, separating equipment problems from technique, and comparing flexes without trusting age labels or formulas.
Read the article →Stick curves
P88: does it still have a place in the modern game?
In the August 2026 lineups we checked, the P88 appeared less often than the P92/P29 or P28. Here is what it does well and how to tell whether it fits your game.
Read the article →Skate fit and buying
Who actually needs the stiffest hockey skate?
Elite hockey skates combine support in some parts of the boot with flex in others. We look at the research, four current junior models, and how to choose a stiffness the player can actually use.
Read the article →Helmet safety and fit
The NHL helmet rack looks nothing like the safety chart
We compared the NHL’s five most-used helmet labels—and ten of 2025–26’s top scorers—with Virginia Tech’s adult ratings. The NHL favourites do not follow the lab ranking, and the gear list cannot tell us why each player chose his helmet.
Read the article →Player development
The NHL still has a birthday gap
Among all 1,038 players who appeared in the NHL in 2025–26, 333 were born from January through March and 206 from October through December. Early selection helps explain the gap; the count cannot predict one child’s NHL odds.
Read the article →