Good stick choice?

Question

I'm going to be playing high school hockey next season, and doing their training program over the summer so I am going to need a stick. I really like the Easton Stealth S17 and I am pretty sure I am going to get that in a 85 flex Sakic curve because it's the closest easton that replicant of Datsyuk's curve (if I'm wrong please say something). About how I play, I am usually a winger and I'm a dangler or passer. I rarely ever take slappers, mostly just wrist shots and poke-ins. I also take up a defensive style of play when needed. Is this a good choice for me?

Answer 1

Ohkay. With the S17, I 'm on my second one and honestly, that's the best stick I have ever shot with. It pretty much shoots for itself, the elliptical bottom of the shaft is what makes the stick great. I don't know how they do it, but They somehow have. It has ridiculously good accuracy, and if you take snap shots, it's scary how fast the puck goes from your stick to the back of the net. Stickhandling wise: the stick is so light and the balance is incredible and the feel of the stick is great. This is truly an all-around amazing stick. But, sadly heres the down part. This is a great stick if you are an NHL player, get free sticks somehow, have really rich parents who buy your sticks for you, or you don't care buying $230 sticks every month or so. The stick itself is pretty durable, flexy but durable. The bad part of the stick is the elliptycal part of the shaft. Like I said before: it makes this stick so amazing, but it is very fragile. So, with that being said, in the corners or just being hit around can easily cause the stick to crack and break. Excpecially if you are playing high-school hockey next year, as I am. I play AAA travel hockey and I will be a freshman, but I have played in a couple of games for my High School, and playing against some huge kids in the corners WILL cause this stick to break. Also, In the pros most of the them that use Easton, (which is the majority) either use Synergy Elites or S17's, but also most of the players who use S17's don't have the elliptycal/bottom shaft for the reason of it breaking too much. Most have the S17, without the elliptycal/bottom shaft, which is almost identical to to the Synergy Elite. The pros can get thier sticks ANY way they want them, so they are mostly painted S17's. If you go onto Youtube and look at some of the videos of the S17 that Easton posted, the stick is really that good, and the accuracy of Danny Heatley and Zach Parise is just that witht this stick. Now If you do end up getting the S17, get the grip, it's gripped (obviously), but it makes the stick feel better balanced and also it is an extra protection layer. Also an 100 flex S17 feels almost identical to an 85 flex Synergy Elite. So if you wanted the 85 flex S17, BUY THE 100!!! I'm telling you!!!!!!  If you do not end up getting the S17, get the Synergy Elite Grip! I have four, NONE BROKE! it's a  great Stick. It's a step down in price/performance (but not by much at all) but it is much more durable!! Also get the 85 flex stick GRIP OF COURSE!, that should be perfect for you. Ohkay, now with the curve: get the sakic, I use that curve. It's great for everything: dangling, sniping, saucers, tip-ins. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CURVES, the sakic seems to fit your player type better, it might take you a month or so to completely be comfortable witht that curve, it should help in the long run, I understand it is a personal preferance, but the sakic curve rather than the datsyuk curve makes your shot rise higher faster, and it puts more momentum on the puck, Try the sakic, that and the iginla curves are pretty similar to the datsyuk, But I reccoment that you try the sakic. If you don't get either of these sticks, get a warrior. DON"T LISTEN TO WHAT ANYBODY SAYS! try one out yourself. Its a great stick!!! Vector/RBK/Nike Bauers are junk compared to these sticks I've mentioned. Now I'm not trying to make a descision for you, but keep this all in mind when you go and buy your next stick. I Really hope this helps!!! After all this took me almost an hour to write so make the right choice. Try some sticks out if you can!!! Also Write back what stick you got and If you like it!!!!

Answer 2

if you opt with an 85 stiffness with the Stealth it could break pretty quickly on you, it's almost TOO flexible, almost like a 70 (intermediate) on their older models. keep in mind though that if you cut it the stiffness goes up a tad.

Answer 3

take the Forsberg curve, its a nice wrist shot and will work well for a defensive forward. The stick is a good choice, it will provide comfort and still have all the qualities you want with a stick.

Answer 4

The Sakic and Datsyk curves are COMPLETELY different. The Sakic curve is a toe curve and the Datsyuk is a heel curve.

I've played with both curves and liked them both at the time, but now I can't play with toe curves. I'm a winger, more of a sniper, mostly a passer and I play with the Datsyuk curve. Sakic curves are good for wrist shots though. Most players play with heel curves. Crosby and Sakic are the only two players that  I know of with toe curves, and I know there are more, I just don't know any.

But again, curves are all feel.

Stealth's are good sticks though. I have the RBK Acuflex..love it, probably less expensive and I have it in the Datsyuk curve.