Introduction
Macrohistory remains the prevailing paradigm in the academic discipline of history. Professional and amateur historians prefer to focus on studying long-term and global political, socio-economic, and cultural processes. The reason is easily understandable; there is the common belief that such a perceptual and analytical approach to interpreting past events allows one to encompass more than others do. However, an in-depth study of historical units relatively much smaller than countries, nations, or ethnic groups can provide findings of equal significance. In this analytical essay, a microhistorical study of hockey sticks, their past, and current socio-cultural weight will be conducted.
Hockey Sticks Today
In their basic context, hockey sticks represent a category of sports equipment that includes both ice and field versions. From a historical perspective, these are one of many examples of the centuries-old cultural appropriation of North American native elements by white people. They are also an example of humanity’s industrial progression. Today, large and local hockey stick manufacturers follow a similar design in producing these, but use various visual elements to decorate them (Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters, n.d.).
One can find modern and vintage hockey sticks in the most basic socio-economic settings of most countries, including general stores, sports stores, and specialized hockey stores. They can also be found in thematic museum exhibits, hockey halls of fame, sports stadiums, and ice hockey rinks, where professional and amateur competitions and championships take place. The last two settings serve as the primary locations for their modern main applications.
Hockey Sticks as a Historical Category of Sports Items
Hockey sticks are an integral part of Indigenous, Canadian, North American, and global sports cultures, boasting nearly two centuries of history. According to experts, it is “believed Mi’Kmaq (pronounced “mee-gum-ah” or “meeg-mah”) carvers in Nova Scotia made the first ice hockey sticks during the 1830s, when they concurrently invented the sport” (Eide 2019, para. 1).
However, other historians like David Carter suggest that this item and the related game were invented and rediscovered several times by various northern ancient societies throughout the history of humankind (APTN National News, 2019). From the beginning, these have served only one purpose: as sports equipment. Curiously, these were seen solely as pragmatic means by Indigenous people. They were not given any sacred, religious, or ceremonial meaning.
Both ice and field hockey sticks have a straightforward design. As experts say, “the hockey stick is composed of the shaft and the blade” (Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters n.d., para. 9). The shaft length does not exceed 75 inches, and they can be “round, rectangular, and tapered” (Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters n.d., para. 10). Regarding blades, there is a rule that these “must be between 2 and 12.5 inches long and no more than 3 inches high” (Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters n.d., para. 10).
The vast majority of blades are curved today, but over 60 years ago, straight ones were the standard. This change happened because curved ones are more practical and ergonomic. Field hockey sticks are half as long and have a ‘J’-shaped head (Ansari, 2022). Moreover, there are three historical stages of hockey sticks, characterized by their materials. Until the end of the last millennium, most of these were made of wood. The 90s were the time of the popularity of aluminum ones. Composite sticks have remained meta in designing and manufacturing processes since the early 2000s.
About the AG5NT
The AG5NT is a perfect example of the modern ice hockey stick. It demonstrates how technologically advanced its manufacturing has become compared to the initial carving method. The AG5NT was designed in 2022 by Bauer, a German company, and resembles a standard composite ice hockey stick, featuring a color scheme of gray, light green, and green (Lakusta, 2022). As one might have guessed, this item is made only for playing hockey. Judging by the description of its powers, its target audience appears to be sportspeople. Like other models, the AG5NT can be purchased at sports and hockey stores.
Ice Hockey Sticks as an Industry of the Western World
The historical origins of hockey sticks have already been discussed; however, this paper has yet to explain their industrial origins. Hockey sticks gained popularity in Western culture around 150 years ago. The first company to industrialize hockey stick production was Roustan Hockey (Proteau, 2023). The driver of it was its acquisition by The Hilborn Company, whose owner was a big hockey fan (Proteau, 2023). According to Proteau (2023, para. 4), William Hilborn realized that “his machine that shaped and molded plow handles could also create hockey sticks.” It was the moment when the cultural appropriation of ice hockey sticks was completed.
The Materiality of the AG5NT
The AG5NT looks outdated, as if it were made in 2005. Its visual style is reminiscent of the first two generations of Xbox. The shaft feels smooth but does not slip out of the grip. The AG5NT tastes like a mixture of plastic and metal, but it is also fair to say it is tasteless. This cutting-edge ice hockey stick is easy and pleasant to swing, bend, and carry on the shoulder.
The Immaterial Aspect of Hockey Sticks
Ice hockey sticks are conceptually associated with four images: the puck, the skates, the uniform, and the hockey player. Field ones are primarily associated with white balls and grass. When thinking about hockey sticks, ideas like competition, sport, and aggression come to mind. When seeing these, such feelings are evoked as ‘the desire to grab it,’ ‘make a strike,’ and ‘get out on the ice.’ In terms of aesthetics, it bears an odd resemblance to swords such as the katana and the claymore.
Field Hockey Sticks and Their Historical Context
The history of hockey sticks as a socio-cultural phenomenon and industry has been discussed and analyzed. However, the background of the field remains to be explained in this paper. For the current stage of human existence, field hockey was rediscovered by the British aristocracy about 40-50 years after the invention of ice hockey sticks. Interestingly, women, especially Constance M.K. Applebee, have been among the leading cultural promoters of this sport in the Western world (Longstreth, n.d.). While the use of field hockey sticks has remained unchanged, the sport has evolved to become less female-centric and more gender-neutral.
Hockey sticks are cultural and historical objects that have been studied primarily through the lenses of history, sociology, and cultural studies. As a result, society now understands how these things emerged, gained popularity, and became the modern norm. However, aspects such as their gender orientation are little studied, and it is a topic that many are interested in (Paul, 2021). Thematically, the closest socio-cultural object to hockey sticks is skating. The level of knowledge that people have about these is similar to the subject under discussion.
Conclusion
Microhistory focuses on comparatively minor historical processes and cultural objects. It can uncover facts about and provide accurate explanations for events similar in scope to those that the macrohistory explores. An example of a microhistorical object is the hockey stick, which has been analyzed in this essay. It has been discussed across many contexts, including perceptual, emotional, functional, material, immaterial, historiographical, and even gender ones.
References
Ansari, Aarish. 2022. “Field Hockey Stick: The All-Important Piece of Equipment.” Olympics.
APTN National News. 2019. “Mi’kwaw Connections to Hockey Go Back to the Beginning.” APTN National News.
Eide, Andy. 2019. “Sticking to the Story.” NHL.
Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters. n.d. “What Are Hockey Sticks Made Of? Wood, Composite, & Aluminum Sticks.” Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters.
Lakusta, Katie. 2022. “Bauer AG5NT Stick Review.” TheHockeyShop.com.
Longstreth Field Hockey. n.d. “Basic History of Field Hockey.” Longstreth Field Hockey Sporting Goods Store.
Paul, Crystal. 2021. “Hockey Has Long Been Dominated By White Men. These Players Hope To Create A More Inclusive Future For The Sport.” The Seattle Times.
Proteau, Adam. 2023. “Hockey’s Oldest Business – Since 1847.” The Hockey News.