5 Best Hockey Sticks You Must Try (2024)

Choosing the right hockey stick is crucial to taking your hockey game to the next level.

From shot accuracy, to power, to overall comfort, you need a good hockey stick to complement your style of play.

Which is why, ultimately, there is no such thing as “the absolute best one”; you choose what suits you best. That’s why I put together a list of the top 5 hockey sticks, alongside their pros and cons, to help you make your decision.

Now let’s take a look at what you’ve been waiting for.

What Are the Best Hockey Sticks?

Whether you’re a beginned or a pro, you’ll want to consider these following options.

1. CCM JetSpeed FT5 Pro

Best Overall

I love the JetSpeed FT5 Pro and would definitely recommend it to everyone.

It’s my number 1 pick because of its consistency and balance in all aspects. This CCM masterpiece was specifically designed to be the jack-of-all-trades. Let’s take a deeper look.

When looking to buy a hockey stick, everyone seeks for a stick that can do it all: shoot, stickhandle, pass, flex, etc. The truth is, most of them can't perform that well in every aspect.

That's where the FT5 Pro comes in.

This well balanced stick is, first off, very comfortable. Its sleek and light design makes it go almost unnoticed in my hands when I'm playing.

Shooting-wise, this stick is super versatile. The JetSpeed collection has never let us down with their shooting capabilities.

Thanks to its hybrid kick point, I could load and release the puck almost automatically. It is so easy to shoot with power and accuracy, even with variations in hand positions.

The R-Geometry shaft, with Nanolite Carbon Layering, offers a secure and comfortable grip, while Sigma STP carbon improves the overall durability of the stick, by 20%.

Pros:

• Good balance and weight distribution
• Quick, effortless release
• Good grip
• Excellent puck feel
• Improved durability
• Hand comfort

Cons:

• Pricing
• Requires a bit of time to fully master

So all in all, this option can be fantastic for any style of play and any level of play.

2. Sherwood Playrite 2

Best for Beginners (Youth)

Next up on our list is the Sherwood Playrite 2. It is, in my opinion, the ultimate stick for beginner hockey players.

Don't run before you can walk, don't use a JetSpeed before a Playrite. 🙂

The Playrite series are made for young players, designed for easy shooting, stickhandling and passing. Contrary to popular belief, this entry-level stick is actually filled with technology.

When you're just starting out, you shouldn't focus on fancy triple figure hockey sticks. Instead, get yourself a stick that will help you develop your skills, such as this one. The Playrite 2 makes learning hockey so much easier.

Not only is it lightweight, but the shaft is also designed to suit youngsters' hands. So ultimately, comfort is not a problem.

As a beginner, you might need guidance on choosing the specs of your stick. Sherwood makes it easy by offering a ton of personalized specs options based on your height, such as:

• Flex and kick point
• Shaft length
• Blade-to-shaft angle
• Blade size
• Blade curve

Sherwood makes sure that you start off on the right foot. They even provide guide charts.

Junior sticks are notorious for not being the best at shot power. And I won't lie, this option does have improved technology, but still doesn't live up to some people's expectations. That's unfortunately one of the few downsides.

But after all, if you're main objective is accuracy or puck control, you're good to go. My students find it easier to snipe with the Sherwood Playrites than other sticks they've being using.

Pros:

• Easy learning experience
• Low pricing
• Personalized specs
• Lightweight
• Effective shooting and stickhandling
• Confortable grip

Cons:

• Durability
• Mediocre shot power
• Usage time (children outgrow their stick, fast)

The Sherwood Playrite 2 is the best hockey stick for entry-level youth or recreation.

3. CCM Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro

Best for Pros

Now for my more experienced pals out there, this is the piece of technology you'd want to have on the ice.

The Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro has been gaining popular ever since its release in 2022.

Why?

It has all the features that a high-level hockey player needs. Dozens of NHL players have used, or are using, this stick, notably Nathan MacKinnon and Trevor Zegras.

This stick excels in puck control. It's not the lightest stick on the market, but it's well balanced.

Based on my experience, the grip of the blade is phenomenal. The puck rarely comes off when stickhandling.

A great addition to this item is the stiffer toe. Let's face it, we've all tried to catch a hard pass just for the puck to wobble off our stick. The stiffer blade allows for better reception.

Not only is the toe stiffer, but also a bit bigger compared to most hockey sticks. The bigger surface area comes in handy often, especially when batting the biscuit midair.

Just like the FT5 Pro that I reviewed earlier, the Trigger 7 Pro is also built with the infamous Sigma STP Carbon. Needless to say, it's pretty durable. Or at least the shaft is...

People are complaining that the blade breaks often. This is likely due to the stiffer blade, which resists less well to deformations on hard passes or shots. Personally, I never encountered this issue, so I can't go intro more detail.

Lastly, the release is astonishing. The Trigger 7 Pro can generate a lot of power quickly, with proper technique.

Consider this stick as an upgrade to the FT5 Pro that I reviewed earlier.

Pros:

• Incredibly strong and durable shaft
• Good puck control
• Quick release
• Good shot power
• Stiff blade

Cons:

• Paint chipping
• Blade durability
• Pricing

The CCM Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro is one of the best sticks for high-level hockey.

4. Bauer Vapor Hyperlite

Best for Accuracy

The ability to snipe corners effortlessly can improve your game by a significant amount.

While more and more hockey sticks are being designed for accuracy, nothing beats the Bauer Vapor Hyperlite.

Oh and did I mention that this stick only weighs 385 grams?

The Bauer Vapor Hyperlite is often recognized as one of the best lightweight hockey sticks.

And, whilst I couldn't agree more, I see it as the best sniper stick.

This stick's accuracy is something else! I kid you not, my first 7 shots with the Hyperlite hit the crossbar.

The snappiness feels incredible, especially on those quick wrist shots.

It does take some time to get used to holding this cane. It's a traditional four-sided shaft, and I feel like it's thinner than most sticks nowadays.

As soon as you get the hang of it, even slap shots hit iron. But I don't suggest trying that out too much, as clappers put a lot of tension on this light stick.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Quick wrist shots
• Insane accuracy
• Easy stickhandling
• Energy efficiency
• Aesthetic

Cons:

• Not designed for slap shots
• Shot power
• Durability

The Bauer Vapor Hyperlite is the best stick for accuracy. It is also one of the best lightweight options.

5. CCM Ribcor 76k

Best Under $100

The CCM Ribcor 76k is a cost-effective option.

To anyone looking for a cheaper backup or practice stick, or even, at the limit, an outdoor stick, you should give this a try.

Generally, I wouldn't recommend using this as a main.

If you really want to spend less than $100, the better option is to wait for clearance sales or discounts. Then, second option is the 76k.

Don't get me wrong, this twig can perform as well as pricier ones.

But it requires you to have perfect technique. For instance, to get a decent release, you can't be shooting off balance, your hands cannot slip, weight transfer must be on point, wrist must rotate enough, etc.

Unlike every other stick on this list, the 76k is not versatile nor flexible. This goes for other cheap sticks too.

Earlier, I recommended to use this stick in practice. Because, that's the time when you focus on sharpening your technique, and the Ribcor 76k may be great for challenging yourself.

In short, it's not the best, it's not the worst, nonetheless it's worth it for its price.

Pros:

• Low pricing
• Quick release
• Good puck feel
• High shot power
• Aesthetic

Cons:

• Not ideal for high-level hockey
• Stiff lower shaft
• Must use proper technique to shoot
• Slightly heavier

The CCM Ribcor 76k is a satisfactory backup stick, but definitely worth its cost.

To Sum It Up...

The 5 best hockey sticks at the moment are:

• CCM JetSpeed FT5 Pro - Best Overall
• Sherwood Playrite 2 - Best for Beginners (Youth)
• CCM Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro - Best for Pros
• Bauer Vapor Hyperlite - Best for Accuracy
• CCM Ribcor 76k - Best Under $100

At the end of the day, everyone's preferences are different.

I might like one, you might like another. I would love to hear your feedback in the comments.

One last thing before you go.

This guide took my team and I, ages to put together. From buying and trying new sticks, to interviewing other players, to researching additional information, we gave it our all.

So if you found this helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends.

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