Senior vs. Intermediate vs. Junior Hockey Sticks: How to Size Right

Senior vs. Intermediate vs. Junior Hockey Sticks: How to Size Right

Grab the wrong size stick and everything suffers — your reach, your shot, your puck control. Here's how to match the right stick category to the right player.

The Three Categories at a Glance

Note: Age is a rough guide. Height and weight are more reliable.

How to Check Stick Length

Stand in your skates (or add ~1.5" if checking in shoes). Hold the stick straight up beside you:

• Chin to nose = ideal for most players
• Below chin = too short (limits reach and puck control)
• Above nose = too long (harder to stickhandle, slower release)

Defensemen often prefer a slightly longer stick for reach and poke checks. Forwards often go slightly shorter for quicker hands.

Weight Matters Too

Flex and stick category are linked to weight, not just height. A tall but light 13-year-old might be better served by an intermediate stick even if their height suggests senior. Use the half-body-weight flex rule as a cross-check.

Intermediate vs. Senior: The Grey Zone

Players between 5'4"–5'7" and 130–160 lbs often fall between intermediate and senior. Here's how to decide:

• If you're still growing and your shot isn't fully developed → intermediate
• If you have a strong, developed shot and want more power → senior
• Many adult recreational players who are lighter or shorter prefer intermediate for the softer flex

Junior Sizing: Don't Size Up Too Fast

It's tempting to put a growing kid in a senior stick early. Resist it. A stick that's too stiff or too long will force bad habits — hunching over, muscling shots, poor puck control. Let them grow into the right size.

Custom Sticks and Sizing

One advantage of a custom stick is that you can dial in the exact length you want rather than cutting down a stock stick (which, remember, stiffens the flex). You specify the length, flex, and curve — and get a stick built for your body.

→ Use our Stick Guide to find your ideal specs, then build your custom stick with the exact length and flex you need.