IW Hockey Blog

Easton, the leader in composite hockey sticks, is once again taking composite sticks to the next level.  Building off Easton’s popular SE16 stick Easton will introduce the customizable EQ50 composite stick.

Easton EQ50 Hockey Stick

Easton’s SE16 stick offered the player one of the softest touches in the game with its Focus Weight Technology™.  A process that places weight in key areas in the blade and the shaft to improve the balance and feel.  Easton has built on this technology in the EQ50 stick.  The EQ50 will feature a fine-tuned, exposed weight system in the heel of the blade.  Redistributing the weight in the blade to the heel dampens the blade in the key impact section, allowing the player to cradle passes easier improving puck control.

Easton's Focus Weight Blade Technology

To offset this redistributed weight in the blade, Easton precisely adds weight to the end of the shaft.  Weight at the end of the shaft counter balances the blade for optimal swing weight.  This Focus Weight Technology™ delivers a truly balanced feeling stick with enhanced puck control.  And it gets even better.  The Easton EQ50 stick allows the player to customize the balance of the stick, by adding/subtracting removable weights in the end plug.  By adding/subtracting one or more of the 5g metal discs the player can fine-tune the balance of the stick to meet their preference.  As a guide Easton provides a chart on the stick to calculate the recommend number of disc based on the length of the stick.

Easton Focus Weight Shaft Technology

The rest of the Easton EQ50 stick is constructed of the highest level of materials and specs that Easton is know for.  Like Compression molding for a precise, consistent feel, Kevlar® wrapping for added durability, and Multi-Rib™ blade construction that ensures a stiff, accurate blade.

The Easton EQ50 hockey stick will be available for pre-sale at IceWarehouse.com and InlineWarehouse.com early September.

Well we are over half way through the 2010 playoffs.  So far they have been packed with all sorts of excitement, and several David over Goliath victories…So I decided to break down what sticks the top goal scorers of the playoffs have been using.

Pavelski using an Easton S19

To start it out we have Joe Pavelski. Many did not expect to see him among the upper goal scorers of the playoffs, despite his foreshadowing play during the olympics. Pav is leading the way with goals on the Sharks.  Netting even more goals than giants like, Heatley, and Marleau.  Pavelski, as you can see is using an Easton S19 stick, which matches he’s play perfectly.  The Easton S19 has an excellent quick and snappy shot release, but can also deliver deadly one-timers, as Pav has shown.

Cammalleri using an Easton SE16 stick

Next up we have Mike Cammalleri. Mike is also using an Easton stick, however he is using the slightly older but still very popular Easton SE16 stick.  Cammalleri excels in the quick give n’ go style play, and the Easton SE16 works great with this. Easton has designed the SE16 to be the “ultimate feel” stick in their line, perfect for touch passes, and one-timers.  The great feel helps give confidence when receiving passes to make that quick play on point.

Toews using a Warrior Dolomite Spyne DD stick

Here we have a nice visible shot of Toews stick, a Warrior Dolomite Spyne DD.  A fairly new stick that came out around mid-season this year.  The Dolo Spyne has a great feel, nice rounded corners and concave walls. The Dolo Spyne features a mid flex point to load more energy into the stick, and a slightly stiffer feel than the Dolo DD stick.  As Toews has shown the Dolo Spyne DD is a great all around stick from slappers to wrist shots.

Briere using a Bauer Supreme One95 stick

Finally, we have Daniel Briere, here meeting a line of fans in Boston.  Briere definitely seems to step it up in the playoff, and this year he has been doing just that.  If you need evidence, just take a quick look at the second round series against Boston. Where Briere and the Flyers pull off one of the greatest comebacks in recent hockey history. Briere is shown here with what looks to be a Bauer Supreme One95 stick. One95 is a great stick, that has seen a fair share of use in the NHL.  The one95 stick offers a mid-flex point for loading maximum energy. Great for one-timers and slap shots, but as Briere has shown it can handle whatever you through at it.

As we have seen there are plenty of players stepping up their game these playoffs, and the same can be said about the stick manufacturers lately. With quality sticks coming from several companies. It is just a matter of finding what stick fits you the best, not what is the best stick.

Bauer has just announced the Vapor X60 Limited Edition will be coming out next month…and it looks dope.  They have taken the look of the non-grip version of the X60 stick darkened it a little and added some smoke like blue graphics giving the stick a great look.

The Bauer X:60 LE stick will have the same construction and materials as the standard X60 stick, only difference being graphics and instead of a stick’um coating or traditional gloss smooth coating, Bauer has used a smooth matte finish. Great choice in my opinion.

Check out the site for more info about the stick and its availability.

Bauer Vapor X60 LE hockey stick

Bauer has developed two solid hockey stick lines that have been experiencing some great success.  The one95 made waves last year with its release, offering explosive power and a great balanced feel. Ovi was even seen putting a couple pucks in the back of the net with one (probably much to his sponsors dismay). This year has brought the new and re-amped Vapor stick, the X:60 offering a great feel, and intelli-sense shot technology.

Bauer has developed two stick lines in attempt to have  at least one stick that will appeal to any player on the ice.  The Supreme stick line is the power line.  The Bauer Supreme stick has a Mid-Low flex point that allows the stick to load up maximum energy on every shot.  Since it does not have as low of a kick point it will not have as quick of a shot release.  It’s shot release though is nothing to sneeze at, I would not characterize it as slow.  Bauer just put their main focus on power with this line. But that does not mean they forgot about everything else. This stick design makes the Supreme line ideal for monster slappers from the point, and explosive one-timers.

The Vapor line was generated with the finesse player in mind.  This stick line is for  players that focuses on puck handling and a quick shot release. Bauer has introduced their micro-feel II shaft dimensions that gives the stick a comfortable feel in your hands.   According to Bauer it helps improve puck handling.  The Vapor stick line excels with wrist and snap shots, offering a lower kick point and quick shot release than that Supreme line.  This year Bauer introduced the Intelli-Sense shot technology, which changes the flex point, based upon your lower hand position.  This works toward making the X60 stick great all over the ice.  So it can still handle slappers and one-timers but a main focus is on the wrist and snap shots.

Easton ST stick

Easton has done it again producing yet another top of the line stick.  The Easton ST stick recently arrived here at IW, many have already been shipped out to some lucky saps.

The ST stick is the power stick in the Easton line.  This workhorse has been given thicker shaft walls for increase strength and power.  The ST stick uses a compression molding process delivering a smooth consistent flex, which offers exceptional power.  This is the same molding process Easton has been using for a little while on their advanced level sticks.

Similar to the other top sticks from Easton, the ST features a Kevlar wrap.  I really like seeing the Kevlar wraps on sticks.  It offers some additional protection by adding that layer of woven textile around the outside of the stick.  Being that it is a woven material it also helps reduce vibrations in the stick giving it a great solid feel.

The “call-out” new feature on the ST stick is the Shox™ technology.  This is a Resin Transfer process in the blade.  This process results in some unique blade characteristics.  As a result of this process the ST stick offers a solid blade feel, and giving you a little help in corralling hard passes.  It has a denser feel, making a little more of a “thud” sound.  It doesn’t do all the work in receiving passes but has a nice feel.

As far as graphics goes I’d say it is probably the best looking stick in the Easton line.  The ST stick comes with a sweet matte gray finish.  The grip version has almost a transparent dark orange top layer.  Both version you can somewhat see the combination of Kevlar and carbon beneath.

All and all the ST stick is great addition to the Easton stick line.  Once again Easton has continued to innovate and progress the hockey stick market.