Get a similar pattern on your new stick

To me the pattern on your stick is what you're buying. If you don't like it, you're not going to like your stick. So when I got very used to a specific pattern, I didn't want to sway from it. It was the Lemieux pattern by Nike, PM66.

Eventually they phased that pattern out and ended up on the Easton Sakic, which I now enjoy. It's really nice for wrist shots, round on the toe for some good stick handling and resembled the old Lemieux pattern.

I came across a site that will help you find similar blades on different sticks. For example, if I liked the Sakic pattern, but wanted to use a Bauer stick, I could switch to the Naslund pattern which is somewhat similar.

Very cool stuff.

Easton S7 Stick

My sticks are something that I’ve always felt touchy with. The weight of the stick, the balance, the pattern, I can really tell a difference in them when I’m using them. I’ve used a variety of sticks over my short career. Wooden ones, cheap two piece ones, with a wooden blade. I made the jump to one piece sticks a while ago, and up until recently, I haven’t found one I fell in love with.

Until I played with the Easton S7. I love this stick. I have the S5, and it just feels really heavy to me. I’ve learned though, I should be using an intermediate stick and I think that goes a long way. With my S5, I had to cut a few inches off. With the intermediate, I cut off two or so. At 130 pounds, I’m not really suited for a 100 flex stick. But what’s interesting is I also had a Warrior 70 flex in my hands (the s7 is a 65 flex). I can drastically feel the difference in stiffness. I checked Easton’s 85 flex S7 to CCM’s Octogun 85 flex, and the Easton felt much more flexy. I wonder if this is a kick point issue.
Anyway, I broke the S7 on the blade which seems to be common. I tried a few different sticks from my stockpile, picked up a new one, and I just had to have the S7 again. It is much lighter than the S5 and S3, and is still affordable at $80. Yes there are lighter sticks, but I am not good enough to get the benefits from them. I’m probably not good enough to get the benefits from the $80 one, but it sure does feel nice in my hands.
I’m using the Sakic pattern, on the Easton S7 intermediate 65 flex. I also tape the shaft to increase the grip along it for my bottom hand. Ever since I switched to Ice, I’ve had a hard time keeping a strong grip on my sticks. The tape helps.