Despite 2020 being a bit of a different season for hockey, we continue with our yearly rankings of the Top 10 Hockey Sticks of 2020. From customer reviews, to pro player opinions, to equipment managers, to sales, we considered everything and formed this list, but we'd be happy to hear your take!
It seems a bit pretentious to put our own stick as the best stick of the year, but honestly, we sold over twice as many as the stick that is #2 on this list. Formed of 18K carbon, weighing in at 400 grams, and offering a highly responsive quick release, customers reviewed this with 4.7/5 stars ... Oh, and it's a significantly lower price than any stick of this quality on the market. Trust us. You want to switch to this stick.
It's tough to dispute that Bauer is the most loved brand by hockey players around the world. Leading this parade is the Nexus 2N Pro. This hybrid mid-kick stick was the 3rd most sold at HSM this year and was the most used stick by players in the NCAA. We saw the tides shift from low-kick sticks to the "Hybrid-Mid" lines this year, as we believe players like the versatility these models provide for their game.
Speaking of hybrid mid-kick sticks, the Jetspeed FT2 was right up there for a top contender. Although it was in slightly less demand from a retail level than the 2N Pro, at the professional level it was the most used stick across the board. Extremely light and balanced (and some flashy red graphics) helped make this #3 on the list.
They made an even lighter version of the 1X Lite, and it was phenomenal. The only issue with the Fly-Lite was that they did such a great job with the 1X Lite, players weren't ready to switch over to the newer model yet. Despite the Fly-Lite being released, we found that for months, our customers wanted the 1X Lite instead. That being said, those that did make the switch were in love with their new discovery, and boosted a large following in minor hockey for this stick.
#5 Pro Blackout
The mid-kick model of the Pro Blackout series was actually number 2 in sales this year, followed by the 2N Pro and Super Tacks 2.0 (people still love that stick). It would have been too much to actually list the Pro Blackout sticks as #1 and #2 on this list, but modestly, they could be. At 420 grams, a hybrid mid-kick (similar to the Nexus/Jetspeed series) and a constant option of every flex and curve, customers loved buying 3 of these sticks for the price of 1 top end retail stick.
Ribs on both sides? Naw. CCM decided to create their new "ergo" design shaft with the concave ribs on just the front of the stick shaft instead of both sides (as seen in previous Ribcor models). We believe this helped with durability in this lower region of the stick, and customers seemed to love the pop they were getting on their quick release shots. It was a dicey move changing things up, but it seemed to work out for CCM. We are excited to see what the Trigger 5 holds in store!
Our belief is that the Super Tacks series peaked at the Super Tacks 2.0. It's not to say the AS2 isn't an amazing hockey stick, but we have noticed more players switching to lower kick sticks (Trigger 4) or the hybrid option (Jetspeed FT2). For those players that still love a true mid-kick hockey stick though, the AS2 is the best on the market.
#8 True AX9
The blue carbon weave on this stick was one of the flashiest we've seen in a while. An update from the A6.0, the True AX9 was extremely sought after once fans saw young Mitch Marner post a top 5 performance in the NHL with this stick. Customers who are loyal to True once again loved the stick.
Something about Toronto Maple Leafs players and their sticks make a brand go crazy. Auston Matthews was spotted using the STX Stallion HPR 2 at points throughout the season and suddenly everyone realized their summer lax twig was now producing their new favourite hockey stick. A great stick at a lower price point is a very enticing purchase for a lot of customers!
#10 Bauer Nexus ADV
If we counted the number of phone calls and emails inquiring about the stock we had for this stick when it was released, we would need to be a lot better at math. Seriously. It was crazy. The newest model of ADV from Bauer was the talk of the industry, with a hole running through the top portion of the face of the blade. This increased stick speed on shots, and reduced weight of the blade for a better feel of the puck. Sadly, durability for this limited edition stick was not the highest, but if you were looking strictly for performance, this twig did not disappoint.