Experimental Characterization of Ice Hockey Sticks and Pucks

The following describes experimental methods for characterizing ice hockey pucks and sticks at game-like speeds. Pucks were characterized according to their coefficient of restitution (COR) and dynamic stiffness (DS) for different brands, speeds, and temperatures. The COR provided a measure of the puck’s elasticity, while the DS provided a measure of puck hardness. At room temperature, puck COR and stiffness differed by 10% and 33%, respectively between two brands. Puck response was highly dependent on temperature, where COR decreased by 32% and stiffness increased over 600% when frozen. Sticks were characterized in terms of their natural vibrational frequencies, mode shapes, and performance. A performance measure of puck speed (PS) was derived from the collision efficiency between a stick and puck found from experimental high speed impact testing. Modal analysis revealed little difference in the first two bending modes for composite or wood sticks, while high speed cannon testing showed a performance difference of 21% for different types of sticks. The results suggest that modern materials used in stick design have a significant effect on the game that may not be apparent using indirect performance measures. 1.0 Introduction The ice hockey stick is a fundamental piece of equipment in terms of player performance. The stick is primarily used for maneuvering and propelling the puck. This study aimed to employ experimental methods to characterize hockey pucks and sticks. The puck is a round disc 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. It is made of vulcanized rubber and weighs between 5.5 – 6 ounces [1]. Pucks are sometimes frozen before play to reduce bouncing and increase controllability. Vertical drop tests to determine the puck’s coefficient of restitution (COR) have been performed and found COR values in the range of .45-.55 at room temperature and .12-.27 for frozen pucks [1]. No data exists in the literature of puck characterization at game speeds. Professional hockey players can achieve speeds in the range of 70 to 110 mph during game play [1]. Players use several different methods to propel the puck with the stick, the fastest of which is the slap shot [2]. During a slap shot, the stick contacts the ice slightly before the puck and the shaft is deflected, or loaded. As the stick travels forward and moves the puck, the loaded shaft acts as a spring and recoils, adding to the initial swing speed of the stick. The point of the shaft that deflects most during the loading phase of a shot is referred to as the kick point, which is near or below the lower hand. Early studies of the slap shot were concerned with the technical aspects of shooting regardless of the stick type [4, 3]. In 1978 Sim and Chao used high speed video analysis to conduct a biomechanical analysis of hockey shots and puck velocities up to 90 mph for high school hockey players and up to 120 mph for college and professional players [4]. More recently, the shaft recoil effect for elite and recreational players has been considered, where a correlation between shaft deflection and puck speed has been found [5]. Stick speed in the slap shot, however, has been shown to depend more on the player than on the stick stiffness [4]. Thus, stronger players who generate increased stick speed, also achieve more shaft deflection. Hardness, flexibility, and wear resistance are crucial properties for hockey sticks, making hardwoods such as elm, birch, aspen, or ash good materials for the first hockey sticks [2]. Wood sticks offer a good feel for the puck, but are among the heaviest hockey sticks and tend to degrade or soften with repeated use [1]. The most recent generation of hockey sticks are made entirely of composite materials, mainly a combination of fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fiber in a polymeric resin [1]. Composite sticks are the lightest on the market. Properties such as weight, stiffness, vibration damping, and geometry can be finely controlled during fabrication. Composite sticks can be more consistently manufactured and wear or soften less than wood [1]. The high strength of composite materials allows increased stick compliance. These developments in composite hockey stick manufacturing have led to changes in stick construction and design. The cross-section of the shaft can be designed to have a concave, straight wall, or convex shape. Shafts can also be tapered to control the location of the kick point of the stick [1]. The effect of these changes on stick performance is not well understood and the direct relationship between shot performance and stick dynamics has not been determined [4, 6]. Vibration of hockey sticks has also become more important with the introduction of composite materials, which players often claim provide a poor feel for the puck on the stick compared to wood [1]. Manufacturers are using new materials and geometric features of sticks that claim to allow the puck to release from the stick faster, but little independent research has been done to confirm or deny these claims. In this study, hockey pucks were characterized by their elasticity and hardness. A test apparatus was developed to measure the response of pucks and sticks at speeds representative of play. The effect of stick vibration was considered using modal analysis. A measure was derived to compare stick performance under realistic play conditions 2.0 Experimental Methods 2.1 Puck Testing The pucks considered here consisted of two different brands that are commonly used in recreational play, referred to as PA and PB. Two dozen pucks of brand PA were tested and 12 pucks of brand PB were tested. Pucks were characterized in terms of their COR and hardness. The effects of temperature and speed on puck impact properties were also investigated. All pucks were tested at 55 1 mph at room temperature (72° F). Furthermore, 12 PA pucks were tested at 25 3° F. Temperature related tests required a two hour wait period between impacts to achieve uniform temperature. A non-contact infrared temperature sensor was used to verify the puck temperature prior to firing. To investigate the effect of speed on puck impact properties, pucks were tested at intervals of 10 mph from 55 mph up to 85 mph at room temperature (72° F). ± ± The hockey puck COR was measured in a manner analogous to that described in ASTM 1888-02 [7]. A high speed air cannon fired pucks at a rigid strike plate mounted on an array of load cells (Figure 1). Light gates were used to measure the inbound and rebound speeds of the puck. The COR was then calculated as