Hockey Stick & Gear Guides | Penalty Box

Our last market comparison covered the 2022-23 season, and it's still one of the most-read things we've ever published. Three seasons later, plenty has changed: new lines, a new owner at True, and higher flagship prices. So we're back at it. Same approach as always. We took every current senior stick from the five major brands, from the top-of-the-line flagship down through the performance and value tiers, and lined up price against weight. Our own sticks are in the tables too, so you can see exactly where [...]

The Hockey Industry’s Obsession with Weight Every year, big brands shout louder about lighter sticks — 380g, 370g, 360g, 330g — as if a few grams could transform your game overnight. But here’s the truth: weight alone doesn’t make a stick better. At Twig Hockey Company, we’ve spent over a decade testing and building sticks that balance lightweight design with real-world durability and performance. Because a stick that’s “crazy light” but breaks after two games doesn’t help anyone. What Those Grams Really [...]

Beer league hockey isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way of life. Whether you're playing for the love of the game, the post-game beverages, or just an excuse to lace ‘em up, having the right stick matters. But with so many options, how do you choose one that balances performance, durability, and value? It’s natural to want the lightest, most advanced stick, but elite-level twigs trade durability for performance. Pro sticks are built for short-term, high-output use—not longevity. For beer league players, find [...]

In the dynamic world of sports, adaptation and innovation are key to staying relevant. This is why we’re following industry trends and making it easier for players to find their perfect hockey stick from our lineup. Embracing Change: A New Naming System We’ve always been at the forefront of adapting to industry trends. In a significant move, we have decided to change the names of our hockey stick curves. This change is not a rebranding exercise, but a strategic decision aimed at enhancing the player exper [...]

Gone are the days of having to fit all your gear into that smelly, dark abyss that was your old hockey bag. The industry has really stepped up it's game in recent years and given us a bunch of great options to choose from that offer tons more usefulness and functionality than we've ever had before in a hockey bag. It doesn't matter if you are a pro or a beer-leaguer, you'll love the latest bags. Needing to get yourself a new bag and not sure how to compare them correctly? What is the best hockey bag? Take [...]

Gift cards are great gifts, especially when they aren't store specific. Then you can use them anywhere. But what do you do with a gift card you received as a gift that isn't for enough to buy what you need online? Most online stores don't let you split payments which makes it super tough. Here's how you can use your smaller value cards to order what you need at Twig Hockey Company, and just about anywhere else online. To use your smaller value gift cards on our site to order a top notch stick, or just ab [...]

If you're a hockey player, you probably know that your stick flex is an important factor in your performance. But do you know how your stick flex changes as you cut down your stick to fit your height and preference? Below, we’ll explain the basics of stick flex and how it affects your shot, and how to adjust your flex when you cut your stick. The basics Stick flex is a measure of how much force it takes to bend your stick one inch. The higher the flex number, the stiffer the stick. The lower the flex numb [...]

If you’re reading this, you’re either a hockey player or looking for a stick for a hockey player. By the end of this article, you should be equipped more knowledge than you ever thought you needed to evaluate different hockey sticks. For hockey players, it’s super important it is to have a good hockey stick that suits their style and preference. A hockey stick is not just a piece of wood or metal that you use to hit the puck, but a sophisticated tool that can enhance your performance and skills on the ice. [...]

If you want to improve your ice hockey skills, one of the most important things you need to learn is how to shoot harder with your stick. A hard shot can surprise the goalie, create rebounds, and score more goals for your team. In this blog post, we will share with you some tips and tricks on how to increase your shooting power and accuracy. Tip #1: Choose the right stick. The type of stick you use can make a big difference in your shooting performance. You need to find a stick that suits your height, we [...]

If you heavily follow hockey equipment like we have since we started this business in 2015, you’ve noticed a trend in recent years. What once was known to most insiders an aficionados in the industry has changed dramatically. What is that change? The Evolution For many years, major brands made speculative runs of products for key players on pro teams in hopes that they would decide to use them in game play and provide the brand exposure to fans the company was seeking. These were the same builds of stic [...]

If you watch any news, especially tech news, you've heard about all the money Microsoft and others have poured into OpenAI and ChatGPT for AI functionality. We were intrigued so we signed up for and account and put it to the test. Take a look below. Q: What is the best performing hockey stick for the price today? A: The best performing hockey stick for the price can vary depending on a number of factors, including the player's position, style of play, and budget. Some players may prioritize performanc [...]

It's been a couple years since our last article covering this market comparison during the 2020-21 season. It's been a pretty popular article previously, so we're after it again this season. As in the last edition, we tried to grab not only the top end elite sticks from each manufacturer, but also the performance and recreational level builds as well. Bonus, we added Canadian dollar retail pricing as well! So what are we looking at this year? Well, we've seen the largest manufacturers embrace the continu [...]