Broken sticks

[boomer1]

The next hockey game I play in will my first. But when a player breaks his stick in the defensive zone, would it not be smarter to get off the ice immediately basically giving the other team a 5-7 second power play than letting them take shot after shot while you?re helpless with out a stick ?

 

[kickserv]

This debate has been going on since the very first NHL game in 1917. You could interview the Top 50 coaches of all time and they'd give you different answers.

The real issue is nowadays sticks break all the time, that was not always the case. I myself played in late 80's and early 90's and it was super rare to break a stick. There was a time in the NHL where you'd never see a stick break, that sure is not the case now.

FWIW I always say if you are at even strength and you break your stick in your own end and the other team has the puck, get off the ice if you have the "short change" (bench closest to defensive zone), and stay on the ice if you have the "long change" (bench farthest away).

If you break your stick and you are already short-handed and the other team has the puck, always stay on the ice.




But as I said, there is no right or wrong answer.









It is kind of like in NBA basketball if you are up three points with 5 seconds left in the game, should you foul or not foul?

 

[TakeAKnee]

Many Answers - all may be correct

Many Answers - all may be correct

The next hockey game I play in will my first. But when a player breaks his stick in the defensive zone, would it not be smarter to get off the ice immediately basically giving the other team a 5-7 second power play than letting them take shot after shot while you?re helpless with out a stick ?

The position the player plays, skill level, away from the bench, short to the bench.......I played and only a few times broken a stick (the wooden days) usually stayed out; hit, slide and as I recall swiped the puck with my arm out of our zone one time then came off.

To answer your question directly, breaking my stick in our zone......5 to 7 seconds is all it takes for the opposition to put the bisket-in-the-basket, so probably 9 of 10 times stay and defend.

Good question though!

 

[boomer1]

Thanks guys, interesting thoughts.