Flat or Curved Blade for a Young Player?

Parents hear two things at the rink: start with a straight stick, or just get a curved one like everyone else. Here is what the people who run the game actually say, and what they do not.

What the governing bodies say

USA Hockey

A 2022 parents’ guide on USA Hockey’s ADM Kids site says that for the youngest beginners a straight blade, with no curve, is best.

That is guidance, not a rule. USA Hockey’s playing rules (Rule 301) cap the curve at 3/4 in for every player, measured from a straight line drawn from the heel to the base of the toe. They do not require young players to use a flat blade.

Hockey Canada

We found no Hockey Canada guidance on straight versus curved blades for young players. Its Playing Rules 2026-28 set stick and blade sizes in Rule 3.3, but nothing in the sections we read tells minor players to use a straight blade. If your association has a rule, it will be a local one.

Other sources

• Minnesota Hockey says straight blades are usually found only on beginner sticks, and that the right curve is a personal choice most players find by trial and error.
• John Shorey, author of the instruction manual Hockey Made Easy, in an equipment sheet published by Hockey Calgary’s recreational council, says a slight curve of about 1/4 in is acceptable and a large curve should wait until Bantam.

None of these sources cites a study. They are coaching and equipment advice.

The case for each

Straight

• The ADM guide recommends it for the very youngest players.
• Minnesota Hockey notes that straight blades are usually found on beginner sticks.

Mild curve

• Curved youth sticks are far easier to find. CCM’s Canadian youth stick page, when we checked in October 2026, listed only curved patterns (P28, P29, 90TM and variants) in its curve filter. Bauer’s Nexus Performance youth stick comes in P92 and P28.
• Bauer calls the P92 “a consistent mid-curve pattern that can do it all.”
• Shorey’s 1/4 in limit leaves room for a mild curve well before Bantam.

What you can actually buy

Straight youth sticks exist, but the choice is small. HockeyMonkey’s straight youth listing showed two sticks when we checked, both wood: a CCM Ultimate youth stick and a Sher-Wood 5000. If you want a straight blade, expect wood and a narrow selection.

Does the blade change how you tape it?

Only a little.

• Straight blade. There is no curve to work around, so the tape lies flat.
• Curved blade. Tape still goes on the same way. On the toe of a curved blade, pull the tape snug and press it into the curve so it does not bunch.
• Either way. Keep the job light and smooth. The kid’s stick tutorial and the forward tutorial cover the steps.

If you are using a curved stick, your child also needs the right hand. See left or right.

A sensible path

1. For a first stick at the youngest ages, a straight blade follows the ADM advice.
2. When your child knows which way they shoot, a mild curve such as a P92 or P28 is the usual step.
3. Save big curves for later, as Shorey suggests.

Safety: if a blade cracks, replace the stick rather than taping over the crack. Hockey Canada advises parents to replace any cracked or structurally unsound equipment right away. See safety notes for parents.