Nicky can you explain illegal sticks

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-11-09, 09:43 PM

there`s a rule in the NHL where a stick can`t be curved too much or too thick.. if it`s bigger than regulation size and coach catches it, it`s a penalty for other team. if it`s not illegal, they get the penalty.

**Immortality** · 03-11-09, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by Nicky Santoro

there`s a rule in the NHL where a stick can`t be curved too much or too thick.. if it`s bigger than regulation size and coach catches it, it`s a penalty for other team. if it`s not illegal, they get the penalty.

Nicky I am waiting for the ultimate King fan Vegas Dave to come into this thread and talk about 1993 Finals and the illegal stick.

**AgainstAllOdds** · 03-11-09, 09:46 PM

It seems like alot of guys have illegal sticks? Its common?

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-11-09, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by Immortality

Nicky I am waiting for the ultimate King fan Vegas Dave to come into this thread and talk about 1993 Finals and the illegal stick.

good one, immer. i forgot that one. that was my last habs stanley cup they won and it was against davey`s kings and that illegal stick call, which was the most famous one in NHL history, helped the habs win the cup.. but davey was about 8 yrs old, so he wont remember, and i think he was an islander fan back then if i am not mistaken.

good call, immer..

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-11-09, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by AgainstAllOdds

It seems like alot of guys have illegal sticks? Its common?

very very uncommon you see a call like this in a game. maybe a few a year.. it used to be more common 15 yrs ago.

**VegasDave** · 03-12-09, 12:06 AM

Originally posted by Nicky Santoro

good one, immer. i forgot that one. that was my last habs stanley cup they won and it was against davey`s kings and that illegal stick call, which was the most famous one in NHL history, helped the habs win the cup.. but davey was about 8 yrs old, so he wont remember, and i think he was an islander fan back then if i am not mistaken.

good call, immer..

Won't remember? An Islander fan?!?! It was a defining moment in my fvcking youth! Such a damn tragedy.

How could I not remember those days? Gretzky, Kurri, Robitaille, McSorely, Sandstrom, Granato, Hrudey, etc etc.

Hell, its why Brodeur was my favorite goalie growing up instead of Roy. Hated him for this.

What is sick about this is that story goes that a Habs trainer went into the Kings locker room and measured all their sticks, so they KNEW McSorely's was illegal. But since the guy was not a scorer and it had very little chance to effect the game (unlike say if Gretz had an illegal stick), they just put this information in their back pocket incase they needed it. Sure enough, down a goal late in the game, it came perfectly in handy. If that stick isn't curved, there is a great chance I am not constantly bitching about how my team has never won a championship today.

Marty McSorely of all people, big tough goon out there to protect Gretz, not even a skill player... to this day I ask myself wtf?

**InTheHole** · 03-12-09, 12:11 AM

what a stiff

**VegasDave** · 03-12-09, 12:17 AM

Oops, just watched the video, looks like they already mentioned that Montreal measured the sticks pre-game.

What they didn't mention though is that if you call for a stick measurement and the stick is okay, YOUR team gets a penalty.

**Immortality** · 03-12-09, 12:35 AM

Originally posted by VegasDave

Oops, just watched the video, looks like they already mentioned that Montreal measured the sticks pre-game.

What they didn't mention though is that if you call for a stick measurement and the stick is okay, YOUR team gets a penalty.

Yeah I had a feeling you would remember it well Dave. I do too as I was a Kings fan. McSorely was the devil to Kings fans.

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-12-09, 01:39 AM

with a few minutes to go, we were down 2-0 in the game and about to be down 0-2 in the series and lose both at home. then out of nowhere, we tie it late thanks to the illegal stick and then win in OT and then series is now 1-1 and we go on to win the series in 5.

talk about a major turning point. if we lose that game, we are down 0-2 and going to LA and the series is over.

Since this day, i've been a big McSorley fan.

**Chi_archie** · 03-12-09, 01:46 AM

interesting stuff

**tullamore** · 03-12-09, 01:48 AM

Gretzky used to McSorely's illegal stick in his restaurant in Toronto.

**tullamore** · 03-12-09, 01:50 AM

Originally posted by Nicky Santoro

with a few minutes to go, we were down 2-0 in the game and about to be down 0-2 in the series and lose both at home. then out of nowhere, we tie it late thanks to the illegal stick and then win in OT and then series is now 1-1 and we go on to win the series in 5.

talk about a major turning point. if we lose that game, we are down 0-2 and going to LA and the series is over.

Since this day, i've been a big McSorley fan.

That did change the series, but didn't the Kings lose the next 2 games in OT. The Kings had their chances to get back in the series.

**tullamore** · 03-12-09, 01:53 AM

Originally posted by tullamore

That did change the series, but didn't the Kings lose the next 2 games in OT. The Kings had their chances to get back in the series.

Nicky, what do you think of John LeClair?

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-12-09, 01:57 AM

funny you mention leclair cause i was just thinking of him when you mentioned those OT wins. habs won a record 10 OT games in that 93 playoffs.. and leclair scored a ton of em, including one big one in LA i believe. leclair was not much of a player in mtl, but when he went to philly, he became a major star.. i liked him.

**tullamore** · 03-12-09, 01:59 AM

Originally posted by Nicky Santoro

funny you mention leclair cause i was just thinking of him when you mentioned those OT wins. habs won a record 10 OT games in that 93 playoffs.. and leclair scored a ton of em, including one big one in LA i believe. leclair was not much of a player in mtl, but when he went to philly, he became a major star.. i liked him.

I just looked it up, he scored both OT winners in LA, that is nuts. I know Montreal has had tons of success but in any other city he would be a folk hero. Hell, if that happened in Toronto they would name a street after him.

**reno cool** · 03-12-09, 02:09 AM

I remember that. I hated the Kings, especially with Gretzky coming over there.

Nicky, could you explain all the different types of curves. Whenever I try to by a stick I'm confused by all the weird curves. I'm still not sure what's the best curve is for me.

**Nicky Santoro** · 03-12-09, 02:30 AM

Originally posted by reno cool

I remember that. I hated the Kings, especially with Gretzky coming over there.

Nicky, could you explain all the different types of curves. Whenever I try to by a stick I'm confused by all the weird curves. I'm still not sure what's the best curve is for me.

who knows if LA would have won the cup that year if hockey today would have made it really big in LA with gretzky bringing the cup to LA and having a stanley cup parade there. they came close.

reno, there are a few curve types; toe curve, mid curve, heel curve. depth of the curve is the amount of the actual bend. don't get anything too extreme. i'd say a mid flex shaft with a low to moderate mid blade curve.

i hope i didnt just confuse you because i might have sounded chinese here to 98% of the posters here at sbr..

sorry i couldn't explain it better, but just dont get a curve too extreme.. it will fukk you up..

**Chi_archie** · 03-12-09, 02:37 AM

is it true that the updated maximum curvature allowable for the stick is taken directly from the curvature of Gretsky's penis????

**reno cool** · 03-12-09, 02:38 AM

thnx Nicky,
I guess mid blade curve would be a standard curve used back in the day? Some of these things I'm seeing the blade is straight but goes off at an angle. I think one of the blades I tried, the puck goes right underneath it.

**tullamore** · 03-12-09, 02:41 AM

Originally posted by reno cool

thnx Nicky,
I guess mid blade curve would be a standard curve used back in the day? Some of these things I'm seeing the blade is straight but goes off at an angle. I think one of the blades I tried, the puck goes right underneath it.

It all depends on what you are looking to improve. The specific curve the stick is meant to help with your shot. Some may find it harder to receive a pass on the backhand with certain curves. Personally I am a fan of the heel curve.