Hockey sticks have changed dramatically since the early part of the 1990s. Prior to that decade, hockey sticks were simply made of wood. Then manufacturers started to use other materials--primarily aluminum--to make the shafts of the sticks. This has made hockey sticks lighter and stronger, and the materials used to make them are continuously evolving. Aluminum, fiberglass, graphite, carbon, titanium, kevlar and wood are used to make the shafts of hockey sticks.
Aluminum
This is the base of the hockey stick shaft. It is lighter and stronger than wood, and more plentiful than elm, which is what most players preferred for their hockey sticks before the change in the construction material. Dutch Elm disease has made the wood harder to come by and much more expensive. The aluminum helps the player swing the hockey stick faster and more decisively when shooting a hard slap shot or a wrist shot.
Graphite
Graphite is even lighter and stronger than aluminum. It is also softer, so it can be used with the aluminum on the shaft. Graphite shafts are the lightest sticks, but they are also the most expensive. Graphite helps give a shaft maximum flex when a player shoots the puck, but it is tempered with aluminum to help it from breaking.
Fiberglass
This is a stick that is designed for players who focus mainly on defense. The fiberglass makes the stick heavier than other materials used to make hockey sticks. As a result, it can be somewhat tiring to use this stick for a full game. However, if you are a defenseman or a defensive forward who blocks a lot of shots, the tick made of fiberglass can help you to be a more effective player.
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