The hockey stick is one of the most important pieces of equipment that a player can possess. Without a stick, a player is no more than useless and obviously is no able to participate in the game. The game of hockey has been played for years and the evolution of the sticks has sprung exponentially in the 2000's. The beginning sticks were all wooden due to the lack of innovation during the early 1900's, but we are now accustomed to fiber glass sticks which are the latest in the stick world.
Pictured above are original hockey sticks that are approximately a century old as the earliest organized hockey began in 1917. These were normally carved from maple or oak trees, depending on the manufacturing location, and normally were straight edged. This allowed people both left and right handed to purchase sticks without limitation, as well as the technology was not quite ready for the curving of blades.
The sticks that are the new normal are fiber glass with some other elements depending on which company you purchase from. By changing the material of the stick to fiber glass there is now flex in the stick. This means that the force generated by the player will be assisted by the flex for more force and power. The blade is also now customized for specific shooting hand whether it be left or right. The reason for this was to allow players to raise the puck off the ice with ease. Some even agree that the accuracy of the shoot is helped by the curve, but that would come down to personal preference most likely.