from Bryan Weismiller of MetroNews,

Like many youngsters who outgrow their youth-sized lumber, Jack was equipped with a mid-priced junior stick that had seven inches lobbed off the top of it.

Modifying the stick made the shaft too firm for even some NHL stars.

“His 55 flex turned into an 85 flex,” Reily said. “Alex Ovechkin is 225 pounds, built like a Neanderthal, and he had a more flexible stick than my son at seven years old.

“That was the problem.”

After developing some more bendable prototypes, Reily and a neighbour teamed up with sports researchers at the University of Calgary. It lead to what’s billed as a first-of-its-kind research project using players aged five to eight years old.

That’s also where the duo discovered a third partner for their venture.

The group eventually came up with a 20-flex junior stick, which falls in line with the general rule that hockey stick flex should be roughly half of the skater’s body weight.

Reily stressed the importance of buying proper equipment, saying the stiff sticks of today are encouraging kids to develop bad habits.

“They’re putting their sticks on the puck and twisting their body to flick it,” he said.

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