Built, Not Bought: When Instinct Became Extinct… and Then Came Back
My first stick was a Titan.
Back when sticks were wood, heavy, and felt like you were swinging a 2x4.
Gretzky used Titan.
He had the white one with red lettering.
That was the one.
The skilled guys had that one.
I had the red one with white lettering.
Which, at the time, felt like a pretty clear indicator of where you stood.
Didn’t matter.
I loved it anyway.
There’s Always That One Pattern
There’s always that one pattern.
The one you use long enough that it stops being equipment and starts becoming instinct.
You don’t think about where the puck sits.
You don’t think about your release.
You just play.
And then one day… it’s gone.
The rack changes. Curves evolve. New models roll in. You adjust, because that’s what players do.
Instinct became extinct.
From Custom… Back to the Rack
There was a time when custom wasn’t a luxury. It was just part of the job.
Pro stock. My pattern. My name on the shaft. Sticks that showed up ready before I even asked.
And then one day… it’s not.
No big brand equipment reps walking in with the latest gear.
No equipment room.
No racks of your curve waiting for you.
Just like that, I was back in the real world.
An off-the-rack guy.
Or maybe even better… a free stick guy.
A hand-me-down from my old man’s junior team.
A leftover from a camp.
Something that showed up without a price tag attached.
Flex didn’t matter.
Curve was optional.
You just made it work.
And there’s value in that.
You learn to adapt. You figure the game out without everything being perfect.
But over time, you notice it.
The feel isn’t quite the same.
The puck doesn’t sit the way it used to.
The instincts you built… start to fade.
The Shift
My game wasn’t about high performance anymore.
The stick became a shovel to move pucks.
A twig for the occasional play.
A tool to direct players.
It wasn’t something I needed to execute practice.
It became something I used to direct it.
Like a conductor leading an orchestra, guiding everything instead of driving it.
And the reality is… most coaches don’t use a stick much.
Unless you have to be a passer.
And when you do, you better be precise.
Because players don’t have time for bad passes.
The Curves You Grow Up On
I look at it now and realize the curve I grew up on had value to me.
It shaped how I handled the puck.
How I shot it.
How I saw the game.
Today’s players are growing up on P28s and P92s. That’s what they know. That’s what they’ve built their game around.
And there’s a reason those curves are the most popular in the world.
They work.
Back When We Built It Ourselves
When I was growing up, it looked a little different.
Wood sticks.
Torches.
Heat guns.
We were in the garage trying to build “our” curve.
It was trial and error.
A lot of experimenting.
A lot of borrowed patterns.
You figured out what worked by trying everything.
Why It’s Different Now
Now?
You’ve got one-piece sticks.
High-end materials.
Consistent builds.
And price tags that make experimenting a little tougher.
You’re not heating up a blade and seeing what happens anymore.
Every decision matters more.
Because every mistake costs more.
Back then, we experimented until we found our pattern.
Now, you almost have to know your pattern before you experiment.
From the Rack to the Builder
For most players, sticks are about finding something close.
Close to the curve you like.
Close to the flex that feels right.
Close enough.
But “close” leaves room.
That’s what made the Bauer custom builder interesting.
This wasn’t about grabbing what’s available.
This was about building something intentionally.
And what stood out wasn’t how many options there were…
It was how each one made you think about your game.
And Then… There It Was
I wasn’t expecting it.
Scrolling through the blade options, I figured it would be a version of what’s already out there.
Then I saw it.
P91A.
The old Drury curve.
Deep heel. Open face. Built for leaning into shots and letting it go.
That wasn’t just a selection.
That was a memory.
Because somewhere along the way, instinct became extinct…
Until it didn’t.
Let’s Be Honest About This
This isn’t for everyone.
The pro custom route isn’t cheap. Around $379 a stick, and you have to order two.
That’s real money.
Not every player needs that.
If you’re still figuring out your game, you don’t need a custom stick.
There’s a lot of value in picking something up and learning how to make it work.
Where It Actually Makes Sense
Where this becomes interesting is for players who:
Know what they like
Have lost something they used to have
Want consistency instead of guessing
Or in my case…
Someone who found a curve that felt like home again.
Final Thought
The game evolves.
Equipment changes.
But every once in a while, you come across something that reminds you how you used to play…
Before you adjusted.
Before you compensated.
Before instinct became extinct.
And when you find it again…
You don’t let it go. 🏒
About the Author
Still chasing that one-timer from the top of the circle… just with a curve that remembers how it used to feel.
Spends more time now diagramming drills than ripping shots, but still sneaks a few in when no one’s looking. Believes the right stick doesn’t make the player—but it can help you find the one you used to be.
fI you know, you know.
And if you don’t yet… this might be where it starts:
https://www.bauer.com/pages/mybauer-custom-sticks
