Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick

elderboy02 · 03-10-2009, 04:58 AM

I don't know much about hockey. What was illegal about the stick?

taltos · 03-10-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elderboy02

I don't know much about hockey. What was illegal about the stick?

Too much curvature of the blade. The amount allowed is in the league rules.

kaisersozei · 03-10-2009, 06:11 AM

I thought that looked like a Cuban.

elderboy02 · 03-10-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taltos

Too much curvature of the blade. The amount allowed is in the league rules.

What does the extra curvature do? Allow you to control the puck better?

357 · 03-10-2009, 06:35 AM

It makes it easier to lift the puck when close to the net, or in a shorter swing of the stick.

This is a very common rule violation. Teams can request any player's stick be measured (1" curve is max I believe). However, if the requesting team is wrong they get a 2 minute minor penalty. So, teams will only do so if they are 100% sure and at a crucial time of a game.

So what I'm saying is probably 50-60% of the players in the NHL use a stick that's in violation, but that is close enough where another team won't chance it. Not a big deal, and I'm no Spezza fan.

motortown · 03-10-2009, 06:37 AM

Freakin' hilarious!!!

Not sure which was funnier... the attemtped "switcheroo", or when he knew he was busted and tried flat-out breaking the damned thing! Classic!!!

357 · 03-10-2009, 07:07 AM

Well that's another part of the rule. He has to have the stick in his hand when challenged otherwise the other team is penalized. So usually players have 5 or more sticks each in the bench area. So they often have different curves like 3 illegal and 2 legal, etc.

SmokeyJoe · 03-10-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motortown

Freakin' hilarious!!!

Not sure which was funnier... the attemtped "switcheroo", or when he knew he was busted and tried flat-out breaking the damned thing! Classic!!!

Exactly! Pretty funny...

taltos · 03-10-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elderboy02

What does the extra curvature do? Allow you to control the puck better?

In addition to what has already been said, the curvature seems to add more velocity to the puck and makes its flight more unpredictable, kind of like a 120 mph knuckle ball.

icehog3 · 03-10-2009, 08:34 AM

Spezza's stick was also deemed illegal because it was not at least 2" wide near the toe of the stick....from the NHL Rulebook:

Quote:

The blade of the stick shall not be more than three inches (3") in width at any point nor less than two inches (2"). All edges of the blade shall be beveled. The curvature of the blade of the stick shall be restricted in such a way that the distance of a perpendicular line measured from a straight line drawn from any point at the heel to the end of the blade to the point of maximum curvature shall not exceed one-half inch (3/4").

03-10-2009, 04:58 AM	#1
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,512 Trading: (133)	Re: Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick I don't know much about hockey. What was illegal about the stick?

03-10-2009, 06:11 AM	#3
kaisersozei The Homebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gerard Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 3,183 Trading: (40)	Re: Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick I thought that looked like a Cuban. __________________

03-10-2009, 06:35 AM	#5
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick It makes it easier to lift the puck when close to the net, or in a shorter swing of the stick. This is a very common rule violation. Teams can request any player's stick be measured (1" curve is max I believe). However, if the requesting team is wrong they get a 2 minute minor penalty. So, teams will only do so if they are 100% sure and at a crucial time of a game. So what I'm saying is probably 50-60% of the players in the NHL use a stick that's in violation, but that is close enough where another team won't chance it. Not a big deal, and I'm no Spezza fan. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

03-10-2009, 06:37 AM	#6
motortown Just in from the Storm Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: John Location: the 'burbs Posts: 38 Trading: (0)	Re: Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick Freakin' hilarious!!! Not sure which was funnier... the attemtped "switcheroo", or when he knew he was busted and tried flat-out breaking the damned thing! Classic!!!

03-10-2009, 07:07 AM	#7
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: Jason Spezza Caught with Illegal Stick Well that's another part of the rule. He has to have the stick in his hand when challenged otherwise the other team is penalized. So usually players have 5 or more sticks each in the bench area. So they often have different curves like 3 illegal and 2 legal, etc. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain