Nostalgia washes over hockey players of a certain age when the subject of wooden sticks comes up.
Many associate them with a simpler time when the game, at least to them, had a distinct sense of purity. Believe it or not, even Sidney Crosby is old enough to be overtaken with fond reflections of those days.
The 33-year-old famously uses a blade with no curve and was one of the NHL's final converts from a two-piece model to the one-piece composite sticks used by all high-level players these days. He is way to one end on the old school scale amongst his peers.
So when the Pittsburgh Penguins held a throwback practice this week, with every player equipped with a Sherwood 5030 'featherlite' wooden stick from days gone by, the captain from Cole Harbour was clearly delighted.
Practice photos, featuring wooden hockey sticks.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 9, 2021
Wooden sticks are generally heavier, less flexible, and have less bounce... Perfect for working on puck control. pic.twitter.com/ge0J3dYwR1
"We were just talking about it and guys were giving me a hard time about how long I used a wood blade," Crosby said during a media session on Wednesday. "It came up just as a group of us talking and there were actually a few guys that I realized didn't actually use a wooden stick at any point. Some guys had used two-piece and some younger guys mostly one-piece growing up so we just figured it's not too often you have time within practice or the schedule to try something out like that. It was just something to kind of switch it up.
"I don't think there are too many guys looking to go to wood after that experience but at least they can say that they tried it."
For tangential purposes, there is a strong case to be made the 5030 was the gold standard from the wooden stick era, despite its inferior durability along the heel. Some even go so far as to prefer a particular curve on those Sherwoods, most notably the Coffey model.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, some preferred the long-lasting Titans Wayne Gretzky made famous and others favoured the fat-blade Kohos Mario Lemieux used, especially because of how workable the curves were over a hot stove element.
The throwback practice in Pittsburgh relieved some stress around the Penguins dressing room during a season that is as challenging as it is unique. Health and safety restrictions are a constant strain, there are no fans in the rinks and now COVID-19 scares around the league might disrupt the Penguins' schedule even more this week.
"I think we know coming in that's a possibility and obviously we hope that we can get into a bit of a rhythm and stay healthy," Crosby said. "But I think you understand coming into a year like this that there's a strong possibility of dealing with that. And a little bit of extra practice isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Off the ice, Crosby and the Penguins welcomed a brand new front office team to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Pens hired Ron Hextall as their new general manager and Brian Burke as director of hockey operations. They replace GM Jim Rutherford, who recently resigned for personal reasons.
Poll on the best wooden hockey stick from back in the day to accompany this story.
— Willy Palov (@WillyPalov) February 11, 2021
Sidney Crosby savours throwback day at Penguins practice | The Chronicle Herald https://t.co/YTG9Ctlk8b
"I've crossed paths with them over the years but don't know them particularly well. I've heard great things," Crosby said. "Obviously with our situation, we know there was a (hiring) process going on so with those two being named, everyone's excited to meet them and move forward."
The next game on the Penguins' schedule is Thursday on the road against the New York Islanders. The Penguins are .500 in the shortened season so far (5-5-1) and Crosby leads the team with nine points.
