Street Hockey Vs. Ice Hockey Stick: What’s The Difference?
As you can imagine, street and ice hockey have vast differences, such as the playing surface, popularity, and more. Both sports use sticks to play the game, so the question arises, is there a difference between them, and if so, what is it?
The best street hockey stick blades are made from tough ABS plastic for durability. In contrast, hockey stick blades are made from composite materials, often including carbon fiber and resin for performance. Also, street hockey stick shafts are usually wood, whereas it’s carbon fiber in hockey sticks.
Given the material differences, street hockey sticks are much cheaper than ice hockey sticks. A decent street hockey stick costs less than $30, whereas an NHL-level hockey stick can cost $300, although you can get good hockey sticks starting at $100.
The stick materials differ because of the sports’ nature and requirements. In street hockey, the playing surface is asphalt or concrete, which wears down the blade much quicker than ice on ice hockey.
Also, flex and performance of the stick are more important in ice hockey, so better materials are used, and the stick prices increase.
Are Ice Hockey and Street Hockey Sticks the Same?
Ice hockey and street hockey aren’t the same because the materials and uses are different. When deciding on a stick for your sport, you must think about slightly different things.
When looking for ice hockey sticks, you should consider durability and size as the core elements of a great stick. However, performance should be a major consideration, whereas, in street hockey, stick performance isn’t that important.
Instead, pricing is important in street hockey sticks and blades as they will be worn out quicker. You don’t want to use a brand new $200 hockey stick for street hockey as it would be a waste of money.
Here’s a quick recap on what to consider when buying an ice hockey or street hockey stick.
| Ice Hockey | Street Hockey |
|---|---|
| Performance | Price |
| Durability | Durability |
| Size | Size |
Can You Use Ice Hockey Sticks for Street Hockey?
Ice and street hockey sticks are different in material yet similar as sticks used for either kind of hockey. As a hockey player, I once wondered whether I could use my hockey stick in summer to play street hockey off the ice?
You can use your ice hockey stick for street hockey. However, you should consider the excessive wear of street hockey, so using your old ice hockey stick instead of the new one is recommended. It’s common to remove the blade from your old ice hockey stick and replace it with an ABS plastic blade for street hockey.
For example, if you have a good ice hockey stick that has gone bad from the blade, remove it and replace it with an ABS plastic blade. This way, you can benefit from the high-quality shaft and durable blade!
In contrast, street hockey sticks wouldn’t work well on ice hockey. ABS plastic used on ice isn’t good in terms of performance and weight, and it simply isn’t meant to complement the requirements ice hockey needs. Although, if you haven’t ever played ice hockey and have a street hockey stick, you can surely practice with it.
If you take thins seriously or want to train ice hockey long-term, you need to get a specific stick.
Do You Tape Street Hockey Stick?
As you might know, ice hockey sticks are taped with Hockey Tape to give grip on the puck and protect the stick from the ice, and the end knob is also taped for better grip. However, street hockey isn’t ice hockey, so do you tape a street hockey stick or not?
Generally, the shaft’s end of a street hockey stick is taped to give a better grip on the stick; however, the blade is rarely taped because the rough playing surface will wear out the tape very quickly.
So, most people don’t tape the blade, but others do. Personally, I wouldn’t tape it as the cement surface will indeed wear the tape out fast.
Some people report that they tape just two strips on the backhand and forehand of the blade, leaving the bottom of the blade untouched. This is a great idea as you will get an increased grip on the ball, yet you won’t waste tape by taping the whole blade only to get worn out moments later.
Another alternative is to use a hockey blade protector. ABS blades are durable, but a hockey blade protector would increase its lifespan further.
In conclusion, ice hockey sticks are better quality and more expensive, whereas street hockey sticks favor affordability and durability over performance.
