If you have a child who is either just getting into Hockey or developing his skills, you will need to make sure to buy the best youth hockey Stick possible. As children will begin at different ages and have different abilities, what they need from a hockey stick will vary from child to child.
Generally, a youth stick will need to be composite and lightweight, and have the build to encourage good playing habits rather than struggling with bad habits. This is what you need to know in order to pick the best Youth Hockey Stick for your child.
What To Consider When Buying A Youth Hockey Stick
There are several things to consider when you are buying a youth hockey stick, including the material, the weight, the flex, length, and the curve. Knowing the right choice for your child means you should know where he is at as a player and what he needs to grow into a skilled player.
Composite vs Wood Hockey Stick
The decision between a composite or wood stick mostly comes down to preference. Professional hockey players tend to rely on composite sticks because of the control and extra edge that they can add during a game. If you are not aiming to be a pro, however, you do have more choice in the stick that will give you the best feel that you are looking for.
Composite sticks are:
While wood sticks:
Weight
The final factor that goes into the makeup of the best youth hockey stick is how much it weighs. The lighter the stick, the less energy you will spend using it to shoot or even simply carrying it around. Heavier weights, however, might provide extra power if you are strong enough to use it and the sticks themselves can be more durable.
The stronger that you are, the easier it will be to wield a heavier hockey stick, but if it is too heavy, you will not be able to control it and it could cost you a game. For this reason, most players prefer a light hockey stick.
Length
The length of the blade on your hockey stick can affect many different parts of play. Blades come in short, medium, or long, and the one that you need depends on how good your control is on the ice as well as your experience level.
Another length consideration is how long the stick is as well, which has to be determined based on height. This is tricky with children because they grow so quickly, they might need a replacement in no time. If you are not concerned about a growth spurt, the stick should touch the ground and reach up to your chin and nose.
Curve
The curve of your blade will affect how you shoot and feel comfortable on the ice. This includes the type of curve, the direction, the depth, and the face angle. The direction is chosen based what your dominant hand is, while the type discusses where the curve begins on the blade it comes down to comfort as well as what will work the best on the ice. The depth of your curve is how angled the curve is. A deep curve will mean you can lift shots while a smaller curve can give you the best control.
8 Best Youth Hockey Sticks For 2018
Brand | Skill Level | Length | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bauer Nexus 2N Editor's Choice | Intermediate/Advanced | 46 inches | 100% | |
2. Bauer Vapor 1X High Performance | Advanced | 46 inches | 99% | |
3. Warrior Alpha QX Budget Friendly | Beginner/ | 47 inches | 97% | |
4. CCM Jetspeed 40 | Intermediate | 45 inches | 95% | |
5. CCM Jetspeed 30 | Intermediate | 45 inches | 93% | |
6. Warrior Covert QRE | Intermediate/ | 47 inches | 94% | |
7. CCM Jetspeed 20 | Beginner | 43 inches | 92% | |
8. Bauer Prodigy | Beginner | 38 inches | 91% |
1. Bauer Nexus 2N Pro Grip Hockey Stick
Best Youth Hockey Stick (Editor's Choice)
The Bauer Nexus 2N Pro Grip is our Editor’s choice for the best youth hockey stick. At the top of the Nexus line, it is part of Bauer’s line of elite hockey sticks.
Design
The design of the 2N is based on three upgrades from its predecessor. It does have the Bauer R-Lite system while has a 1X blade core with a fiber-reinforced dampening layer between the core and the fiber. It is designed to also give you the maximum height possible, giving you the edge in face-offs and corner battles.
Features
There are a lot of positive features that come with the Nexus 2N, including a R-Lite blade which means that you are going to have a lightweight stick and a better feel from the stick.
This stick also has Bauer’s DuraFlex resin system, which replaced the ElasTech that the preceding stick had. DuraFlex has a 20 percent increase in flex strength than the ElasTech did.
2. Bauer Vapor 1X Lite Grip
High Performance Youth Hockey Stick
Our choice for the best and most high performing youth hockey stick is the Bauer Vapor 1X. This is a composite, one-piece hockey stick.
Design
Made for high performance, the Vapor 1X is designed using TeXtreme carbon fiber, resulting in a lighter stick. The carbon layering is meant to help with durability, ensuring that this stick is not going to break on you easily. Additionally, there is an Aero-Sense 2 blade core, which provides an “enhanced pop” when taking your shot.
Features
This high performance stick has a signature ultra-row kick-point with a reinforced QRT+ taper. The stick itself is meant to be versatile, allowing better performance during hard passes as well as slap shots. At only 397 grams, the Vapor 1X actually weighs less than the previous year’s model. Overall, it has all of the best features you can expect from Bauer.
3. Warrior Alpha QX Composite Hockey Stick
Budget Friendly Youth Hockey Stick
Another wonderful composite stick, the Warrior Alpha QX is a budget friendly youth stick and still one of the best youth hockey sticks on the market.
Design
The design of the Warrior Alpha QX uses a Minimus Carbon 1000, which is a lightweight and study type of material that makes it easy to use the stick. There is also a solid taper design that gives it stability throughout the blade when you release your shot.
Features
The Alpha QX has many wonderful features to it, including the sabre taper that is made to make it more stable when you are releasing your shot. With more stability, you will get better accuracy and have an overall better performance on the ice.
This is light and well-balanced as well. There are many other sticks that are lightweight, but this level of balance is hard to beat. The balance also means that there is a better pop off of your snapshots and slapshots, getting you to bounce the puck right off of your blade.
4. CCM Jetspeed Composite 40 Flex Hockey Stick
The CCM Jetspeed line has come up with several affordable youth hockey sticks. The Composite 40 Flex is one of the many great sticks in the line.
Design
The 40 Flex was designed to help players learn how to handle their puck on the ice. There is a full grip that allows for better control, helping them learn what feel is and what it means as a player. It has a 45 inch length with a reliable flex ratio. Ultimately the geometry of the stick is designed to reduce the chance that your young skater will develop any bad habits.
Features
Some of the features of this youth stick include a P2B youth blade for stickhandling and shooting technique development. The size and depth of the P2B will allow players to grab the puck easier. The P2B has a carbon fiber weave to increase the stiffness of the blade. It is also perfectly calibrated with its flex ratio, allowing for efficient loading.
5. CCM Jetspeed Composite 30 Flex Hockey Stick
Another hit from the CCM Jetspeed line, the Composite 30 Flex is a wonderfully reliable and affordable stick for beginning hockey players.
Design
The design of the 30 Flex is the same as the 40 Flex, it just has a lower flex rating, making it a better choice for smaller players who do not need a big flex. Designed for comfort and control, the 30 Flex has a perfect blend of weight and feel. This also has a hybrid kickpoint for better power and speed.
Features
This youth stick features CCM’s new P2B youth blade. The size and depth of the P2B will allow children to grab the puck more easily while helping their shooting technique. The P2B carbon fiber weave also increases the stiffness and strength of the blade, creating a durable and responsive feel for young players unused to shooting.
6. Warrior Covert QRE Grip Hockey Stick
For a great performing youth stick, take a look at the Warrior Cover QRE. This composite stick is a real game changer for young players.
Design
This is a one-piece design, made for energy transfer without too much effort on you. The one-piece technology for lightweight response and with the textured surface Pro Cortex grip, you will get optimal hand control. The carbon fiber is almost entirely exposed in order to give you a sharp and minimalist look.
Features
The Warrior Covert has a QR Edge taper that allows for an explosive release as well as a foam-filled core blade with heel-to-toe stringers for stiffness. The Minimus Carbon 1200 fiber is high-strength, lightweight flat-weave carbon composite design improves the stick’s construction. With this ultra-thin carbon fiber stick, energy transfers are easy and a little more efficient in each release, making it easy on smaller players.
