Hockey Sticks

Had an interesting chat this morning that brought back a flood of memories from my youth.

My chiropractor, still an active old timers hockey player, was talking about getting back on the ice this season and using his new stick.

When I jokingly asked if he had to cash in his RSSPs to buy the stick he said he got a deal, only $300.

My mind went into flash back mode and there I was back in Winnipeg 60 years ago looking up at the rack of hockey sticks in Gooch's bicycle shop (Skates and sticks in winter months). I was a kid of ten with a paper route and money to spend on a new stick.......but it was a big decision did i go for the $1.75 stick or the $1.95 one.

Wow 60 years later and I could have been looking at a $300 stick.

Back to today and the chiropractor talked about buying $7.00 sticks at Canadian Tire in Regina. According to him the secret of the $7.00 stick was soaking it in the bathtub or they would break first time out.

After this conversation I thought about how important the hockey stick has been in Canadian society. From the straight as an arrow wooden ones to the wrapped fibre glass to curved blades to interchangeable blades to the masterpiece composite models of today.

Every kid had a stick of some sort; new ones, hand me downs, broken ones found at the rink....the hockey stick stimulated the imagination of kids shooting balls or pucks in basements, against garage doors or against the boards at outdoor rinks. You could be any hockey hero.......as long as you had a stick in your hands.

Yup good times back at the Broadway Optimist Community Club rink imagining what might be.....


Comments

Unknown said…
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Unknown said…
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People got carzy about purchasing hockey sticks.
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