Youth and Junior Stick Sizes, and Why Length Matters

A stick that is too long or too short makes everything harder for a young player. It also decides where the tape goes, because the knob sits at the top of whatever length you end up with. Size the stick first, then tape it.

The sizes

Sticks are sold in four broad sizes. Brands draw the lines differently, so treat these as rough bands.

• Youth. The smallest sticks. Pro Stock Hockey describes youth sticks as roughly 38 to 44 inches, for about ages 4 to 8, with a thinner shaft for small hands. CCM’s Canadian youth range lists flexes of 10 to 40.
• Junior. Pro Stock Hockey puts junior sticks at about 46 to 53 inches for about ages 8 to 12.
• Intermediate. A bridge between junior and senior for growing teens and smaller adults.
• Senior. Full-size adult sticks.

Here is how Bauer and CCM chart junior and intermediate sticks:

Brand	Size	Flex	Length	Player height	Player weight
Bauer	Junior	30	50 in	4’8” to 5’4”	40 to 80 lb
Bauer	Junior	40	52 in	4’8” to 5’4”	60 to 100 lb
Bauer	Junior	50	54 in	4’8” to 5’4”	80 to 120 lb
Bauer	Intermediate	55 or 65	57 in	5’2” to 5’10”	90 to 145 lb
CCM	Junior	40	49 in	4’6” to 5’2”	60 to 100 lb
CCM	Junior	50	52 in	about 4’9” to 5’5”	80 to 120 lb
CCM	Intermediate	65	57 in	5’2” to 5’10”	110 to 150 lb

Both charts measure length from where the heel touches the ice to the top of the shaft. Neither chart, as published by the retailer Scheels, includes youth rows.

How to check the length

The guides agree on the idea and differ a little on the exact spot:

Source	In shoes	In skates
Bauer	About the nose	Between the chin and bottom lip
USA Hockey ADM Kids	The chin	The top of the collarbone
Minnesota Hockey	About the nose	About the chin
Ontario Minor Hockey Association	Between the mouth and nose	About the chin
Hockey Canada (parents’ article)	Between the chin and mouth	Not given

Stand the stick on its toe in front of your child and check where the top lands. If you are between two guides, the ADM advice is worth noting: a stick that is too long makes it hard to shoot or stickhandle properly.

Why length matters for flex

Cutting a stick changes how it bends.

• Bauer, Minnesota Hockey and the OMHA all say cutting a stick makes it stiffer, which raises the flex number.
• Bauer adds that an extension does the opposite and lowers it.

This matters for young players because they are light. The ADM guide says flex should be less than half a player’s body weight, and gives the example of a 60 lb eight-year-old in the 20 to 25 range, especially if the stick has been cut. Minnesota Hockey says that for younger players, getting the size right usually gives an adequate flex.

So if a youth stick needs a big cut, a shorter or lower-flex stick may be a better buy than cutting a longer one down.

Why length matters for taping

• The knob moves. Every cut changes where the top hand sits. Tape the knob after the final cut, not before.
• The end cap goes. Cutting a composite stick removes the factory end cap. Hockey Canada Rule 3.3(d) says every shaft end must be covered, and a hollow shaft needs a cap as well. Put a plug or cap in, then tape over it.
• Growing kids. An extension can add length mid-season. Rebuild the knob at the new top. Bauer’s point about extensions lowering flex applies here too.

The kid’s stick tutorial covers the tape job itself, and knob size for small hands covers the top.

Quick checklist

1. Pick the size band by height and weight.
2. Check length in skates against one of the guides above.
3. Cut if needed, remembering it adds stiffness.
4. Cap the end.
5. Then tape.

Safety: cutting a stick is an adult job. Use a saw, hold or clamp the stick firmly, and keep your free hand clear of the blade.