>I think all this talk about illegal sticks can be related to the problem
that the NHL had with >oversized goalie equipment.  It is not the players
>(in most cases) that are making their sticks illegal.  The manufacturers
>of the equipment just make over curved sticks so a player could
>unknowingly play with an illegal stick
 
I have a little problem with this.  While I may unknowingly buy a stick
with an illegal curve at MVP
Sports, most of the players in the NHL have their sticks and equipment
custom made to their own
specs.  I have no knowledge of how the college players get their equipment,
 but I imagine they can
get the custom sticks as well, at least at the bigger schools.  I would
love to hear from someone
who knows what the story is with that.
 
The fact that the manufacturers would make equipment with illegal specs
opens a whole new discussion.
 
 
.  One time before a scrimmage,
>one of the refs measured some of our sticks "for fun" and most of them
>were illegal and they were sticks that we got from our supplier.  I do
>not think you can blame players for it, like I said, in most cases.
Not that I am perfect, but I can blame players for it.  They are ultimately
 the one that is
cheating.  And they are the one that could ultimately cost their team a
championship as someone
stated earlier.  It is therefore their responsibility to make sure they are
 following the rules.
 
>Also, as a player, I think that it is really a cheap move if a coach
>tries to catch a player with an illegal stick since a lot of people have
>them.  It really does not make a difference anyway.  Like a lot of
I agree here that the extra quarter inch curve probably doesn't make that
much difference to
players with the talent to get to that level.  But, the rule is there, so
follow it.  If people
are so blatantly breaking the rules, than maybe they need to change.
 
>people have said, there is that "non-verbal agreement" between players
>as well as coaches not to even worry about it, but in the heat of
competition, you have to take >advantage of what ever you can.  It is
college hockey.
 
Just as some players are trying to take advantage of the little extra
curve, so should the opposing coaches be allowed to take advantage of the
rules.  And any coach or player that has a
problem with the other team following the rules should find another line of
work.  This is just
another form of cheating, and there is no place for it in our sport.
 
>chuck sawicky
 
Dave
 
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