This past summer, Patrick Kane traveled up to Blainville, Quebec to visit Bauer’s factory for a day.
The plan was for Kane to test equipment and let the company know exactly how he wanted everything to be customized as he prepared for the upcoming season. He tells them what he likes, and they follow his instructions.
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“They’re awesome,” Kane said.
During the visit, Kane also got on the ice and tried out Bauer’s sticks. Kane actually hasn’t changed a whole lot about his sticks since he was younger — he still uses about the same curve he had as a teenager — but he has made some adjustments over the years. This season he went down in flex.
Kane utilized his trip to the factory to toy with an assortment of sticks and different customizations. In the end, he went with what felt right to him.
“I went on the ice for a couple hours and they had a bunch of different shafts and different flexes,” Kane said. “Just kind of go out there and shoot pucks. That’s kind of how I pick my stick, just what I felt most comfortable with.”
Kane recently took the time to explain from top to bottom how and why he customizes his Bauer Vapor 1X Lite stick the way he does.
Patrick Kane has altered his flex in recent years. (Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports)
Flex
“I’ve always had a stiff flex, even when I was a kid. My dad wouldn’t buy me the intermediate or junior stick. He’d buy me the senior sticks, so I was just carrying around a log, you know. It was really good for me because it helped with my stick-handling, it helped with me catching passes. And my shot wasn’t that great when I was a kid, but I always found ways to be a good stick-handler and score goals that way.
“And then as time develops, I always used a stiff stick. I used like 107 when I started, then I went down to 102, now I’m at a 95 flex. I think as you get more comfortable, especially throughout the summers, you try and kind of mess around with different things to see what works and what you feel comfortable with. But, yeah, this is the first year I’ve switched to the 95, and it’s a little bit of a lighter stick as well.”
Patrick Kane doesn’t put a lot of curve into his stick. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)
Curve
“I’ve had the same curve since I’ve been 15, no, maybe 14 years old. The year I went to Honeybaked, so maybe even 13, the year I played in Detroit. I remember getting like this blue M-1 Mission stick and just went with the curve and really liked it. Just kind of been using that one ever since. So developed that one with Bauer.
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“There’s not really much to it. It’s like a longer blade, a little bit taller at the toe, but really not much of a curve. If anything, it has a little bit of atoe curve on it. I’ve always liked having a smaller curve for the same type of purposes, like stick-handling and passing, especially catching passes. And then as time goes on, you just kind of learn how to shoot with it.”
Shaft
“It’s called like a snake-skin grip. It’s pretty slippery, but I take the tape and just kind of put my grip on it, you know. It’s kind of hard to explain. I just call it the grip stick. So if I’m on the bench and I need it, I’ll just say grip or give me the grip stick and I just go up and down to get whatever grip I want. I like it that way because it’s like personal, how it feels for me.” (Chris Kunitz, who was sitting next to Kane, said, “It would be like pine tar for a baseball bat. It’s like stick-em purpose.”)
Patrick Kane tapes his stick in a precise way. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)
Knob
“I have a rubber slip-on knob. I don’t tape it up there. It’s a company called Tacki Mac. Just kind of slips on. It’s rubber. I like it because it doesn’t really get wet. It stays pretty dry for me.”
Tape
“I’ve always taped it toe to heel for whatever reason. That’s just kind of how I was taught from my dad. He just really liked it that way for some reason. I know most guys go heel to toe, but I go toe to heel with the white thick tape and then I’ll take a puck to it over the white tape to just kind of give it a little bit of some marks on there. I’ve been doing that for a long time, too.
“Sometimes you mess around, you go out there with like black tape in practice or mess around with different tape jobs after practice, but mostly been the same — toe right to the end of the heel and with the white thick and the puck marks.”
(Top photo: Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
As a hockey equipment enthusiast with a deep understanding of the customization process and the intricacies of professional players' gear preferences, let me delve into the details of Patrick Kane's recent visit to Bauer's factory and the customization choices he made for his Bauer Vapor 1X Lite stick.
Flex: Patrick Kane has a history of using a stiff flex in his sticks, dating back to his childhood when his father insisted on senior sticks, contributing to better stick-handling and passing skills. Over the years, Kane has experimented with flex values, starting with 107, then 102, and now settling at a 95 flex. He highlights the importance of comfort and the need to adapt to changes, noting that the 95 flex stick he chose for this season is also lighter.
Curve: Kane has stuck with the same curve since he was 13 or 14 years old, initially developed with a blue M-1 Mission stick. The curve features a longer blade, slightly taller at the toe, with minimal curve overall. Kane emphasizes the benefits of a smaller curve for stick-handling, passing, and catching passes. The continuity of using the same curve demonstrates his preference and the adaptability he has developed over time.
Shaft: Describing the grip on his stick, Kane mentions a "snake-skin grip" that he personalizes using tape. This grip allows him to customize the feel of the stick to his liking. The tactile experience is crucial for Kane, who refers to it as the "grip stick" and requests it on the bench by saying "grip." Chris Kunitz adds that it's akin to pine tar for a baseball bat, providing stickiness for enhanced control.
Knob: Kane opts for a rubber slip-on knob by a company called Tacki Mac. Unlike taping the knob, the rubber slip-on stays dry and is easy to put on and take off. Kane appreciates the practicality of this knob, emphasizing its resistance to getting wet during gameplay.
Tape: In terms of taping his stick, Kane follows a unique approach. He tapes toe to heel, a method taught by his father. This differs from the more common heel-to-toe taping style. Kane uses white thick tape and intentionally adds puck marks by taking a puck to it after taping. This specific tape job has been a consistent part of his gear setup, showcasing his adherence to a particular routine.
Patrick Kane's detailed explanation of his stick customization provides insight into the meticulous considerations and personal preferences that professional hockey players undertake to optimize their performance on the ice.
