Breaking Your First Stick

They say you’re not a man until you break your first stick.

I’m here to prepare you for the monumental event and walk you through the emotions you’ll experience.

First: Triumph

Breaking a stick makes you feel like a BEAST. Like when Benny the Jet ripped open his first baseball, breaking a stick is a right of passage and you deserve to feel proud of yourself. Unless of course your stick broke because you accidentally stepped on it or got it caught in the door. Then you’ll feel like an idiot.

Second: Confusion

What do I do now? You may wonder. Do I skate to the bench to change it up? Do I wait for one of my linemates to bring me a new one? Do I try to play with a broken stick?

Here’s what to do: First, drop it like it’s hot! You can’t play with a broken stick, but you CAN stay on the ice. NHL rule 10.3 states

A player without a stick may participate in the game. A player whose stick is broken may participate in the game provided he drops the broken stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule. source

If you’re defending your zone, you might want to stay put, even if you don’t have a stick. You can use your body to block shots or intercept passes. If you’re attacking, change it up. There’s not a lot you can do on offense without a stick.

Third: Sadness

This feeling of bliss fades quickly as soon as you remember you aren’t sponsored by Reebok and your stick costs you a day’s labor. Man….I really liked that stick and I that money was going to go to filling up my next tank of gas.

Fourth: Excitement

Yes! Now I have an excuse to buy a new stick.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, now you know what to do if you break a stick. If you’ve been playing awhile and aren’t sure what to do with your broken sticks, How to Hockey has a few suggestions. Featured image by Valerie