A hockey stick blade cover comprises a viscoelastic sleeve that may be coupled to a hockey stick blade, wherein a friction force between the viscoelastic sleeve and the hockey stick blade retains the viscoelastic sleeve on the blade. The viscoelastic sleeve comprises a self-healing material. In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a vitrimer elastomer. In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a composite material, such as including one or more selected from a group of natural fibers, synthetic fiber, boron nitride nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. The hockey stick blade cover is typically attached to the hockey stick blade by expanding the viscoelastic sleeve, sliding the expanded viscoelastic sleeve over the blade, from the toe of the blade toward the heel of the blade, and then releasing the viscoelastic sleeve, thereby allowing the viscoelastic sleeve to contract. A pre-taped hockey stick comprises a viscoelastic wrap that is pre-coupled to the blade.

A hockey stick blade cover comprises a viscoelastic sleeve that may be coupled to a hockey stick blade, wherein a friction force between the viscoelastic sleeve and the hockey stick blade retains the viscoelastic sleeve on the blade. The viscoelastic sleeve comprises a self-healing material. In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a vitrimer elastomer. In some embodiments, the sleeve comprises a composite material, such as including one or more selected from a group of natural fibers, synthetic fiber, boron nitride nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. The hockey stick blade cover is typically attached to the hockey stick blade by expanding the viscoelastic sleeve, sliding the expanded viscoelastic sleeve over the blade, from the toe of the blade toward the heel of the blade, and then releasing the viscoelastic sleeve, thereby allowing the viscoelastic sleeve to contract. A pre-taped hockey stick comprises a viscoelastic wrap that is pre-coupled to the blade.

A finger guard for use with a goalie hockey stick includes a collar arranged to be frictionally retained about the paddler portion of the goalie hockey stick and a guard body on the collar so as to be supported on the paddle portion of the goalie hockey stick in proximity to the top end of the paddle portion to protrude outwardly from a major front face of the paddle portion. The guard body has a bottom face which is arranged to be oriented substantially perpendicularly to the common plane of the paddle portion. The guard body provides the function of deflecting pucks away from the fingers of the goalie even when pucks are deflected upwardly along the paddle portion of the goalie hockey stick.

A finger guard for use with a goalie hockey stick includes a collar arranged to be frictionally retained about the paddler portion of the goalie hockey stick and a guard body on the collar so as to be supported on the paddle portion of the goalie hockey stick in proximity to the top end of the paddle portion to protrude outwardly from a major front face of the paddle portion. The guard body has a bottom face which is arranged to be oriented substantially perpendicularly to the common plane of the paddle portion. The guard body provides the function of deflecting pucks away from the fingers of the goalie even when pucks are deflected upwardly along the paddle portion of the goalie hockey stick.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

A hockey stick that is configured with a shaft that facilitates an ability for a user to place substantially the entire length of the shaft flat on an ice surface. The hockey stick of the present invention includes a shaft having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The shaft is contiguously formed with a blade portion proximate one end of the first portion. The second portion is intermediate the first portion and the second portion. The second portion is distally located to the blade portion and is angularly oriented with the first portion. The third portion is contiguously formed with the second portion distal to the first portion. The angular orientation of the second portion provides a position of the third portion such that the third portion is in an offset parallel plane with the first portion of the shaft.

A hockey stick that is configured with a shaft that facilitates an ability for a user to place substantially the entire length of the shaft flat on an ice surface. The hockey stick of the present invention includes a shaft having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The shaft is contiguously formed with a blade portion proximate one end of the first portion. The second portion is intermediate the first portion and the second portion. The second portion is distally located to the blade portion and is angularly oriented with the first portion. The third portion is contiguously formed with the second portion distal to the first portion. The angular orientation of the second portion provides a position of the third portion such that the third portion is in an offset parallel plane with the first portion of the shaft.

A hockey stick is provided. The hockey stick includes a shaft having a first distal end and a second distal end, a first blade coupled to the first distal end, and a second blade coupled to the second distal end, wherein the first blade and the second blade are curved in the same direction.

A hockey stick is provided. The hockey stick includes a shaft having a first distal end and a second distal end, a first blade coupled to the first distal end, and a second blade coupled to the second distal end, wherein the first blade and the second blade are curved in the same direction.