The dimensions of a hockey puck have changed over the years. This is most noticeable when comparing the old wooden pucks to the new plastic ones. One of the most significant differences is that the weight of a hockey puck has decreased dramatically. This has resulted in a big shift in the way the game is played. Before we get into describing the differences, let’s first take a quick look at the history of the hockey puck.
Table of Contents
A Brief History Of The Puck
The first hockey pucks were made of wood. The original wooden pucks had 4″ sides and were thick. They were made of wood mainly because it was cheaper to get wood than metal at the time. The original wood pucks were lighter because they were made with less dense wood. Due to the size and weight restrictions, the coaches would have to check the pucks once the game ended. This was both frustrating and time-consuming for everyone involved.
This all changed on October 27th, 1910. That was the day that the National Hockey League (NHL) was founded. The next season, 1911-12, saw the first official game of hockey played in the United States. The traditional 4″-sided wooden puck was replaced with a round plastic one. This was made of an injected plastic called nitrocellulose. This is the same plastic that today’s hockey pucks are made of. A nitrocellulose puck is about 2″ in diameter and 3/4″ thick. It weighs only 2.2 oz. Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, it was possible to create larger and more durable pucks. One of the first and most significant advantages of the round plastic hockey puck over the wooden one was that it became much easier to transport. This was especially significant for professional leagues that traveled regularly to different cities. Before the advent of the plastic puck, it was not uncommon for hockey players to experience injuries from overexertion while lugging around a heavy wooden puck.
How Do They Compare?
To put things into perspective, let’s compare the weight of a modern-day hockey puck to that of an early 20th century wooden one. An average sized, premium ice hockey puck today weighs about 38 lbs. As we mentioned above, early 20th century wooden pucks weighed about 44 lbs. That’s about 16% more than what we call a hockey puck today. This is a remarkable weight loss given the fact that the game has remained largely the same over the years.
The Plastic Puck Era
It wasn’t just the weight that changed with time. The shape of the hockey puck itself evolved to meet the needs of the modern game. One of the most significant changes was in the material used to make the puck. Before the plastic era, the surface of the puck was usually made of leather or cloth. These surfaces didn’t last long in the game and were easily damaged. If you’re ever seen on TV collecting hockey equipment, you’ll know exactly what kind of skates, gloves, and protective gear are featured in each shot. It wasn’t easy to find a surface that wasn’t damaged by the sliding action of the skates and sticks. This is why the surfaces of the pucks were changed to a synthetic material called vulcanized rubber. It was first used for hockey pucks in the 1950s and has since stuck as the standard surface material.
Along with the material used to make the puck, the size and shape also changed. While the original 4″ × 4″ size remained, the depth of the pockets inside also decreased. This was to allow for the addition of more synthetic materials to the puck. The main purpose of adding more synthetic materials was to decrease the weight of the puck. Despite the new materials used to make them, hockey pucks didn’t become popular until the 1960s.
It wasn’t just the weight and the materials used to make the puck that changed. The way the puck was made also evolved due to new manufacturing methods. Before the days of mass production, making a hockey puck was a one-of-a-kind process that required skilled handwork. The old methods of making pucks were either done one-by-one or in small batches. These days, however, hockey pucks are made using an injection molding process where large quantities can be produced efficiently.
Ridiculously Light Pucks
In the early days of the NHL, the only people who could afford expensive skates and hockey equipment were the wealthy classes. It wasn’t uncommon for hockey pucks to be made of gold or other rare metals. The cost of these materials outweighed the practicality of the lightweight pucks. It wasn’t until the 1930s that cheaper skates and equipment were available to the general public. The game quickly spread to middle-class homes. It wasn’t only the cost of the materials that decreased. The manufacturing methods used to make the pucks decreased the thickness and weight of the final product. This is what led to pucks that are easily damaged and breakable. It wasn’t uncommon for pucks to be damaged in transit or during gameplay. If you take a look at older hockey equipment, you’ll see exactly where all the damage occurred.
The problem with these days is that the weight of a hockey puck isn’t just about practicality. The lighter the weight, the more excursions a player can take part in. This is why the weight of a hockey puck has become a source of competitive advantage. We’re already seeing shifts in strategy as a result of the weight of the pucks. Before the changes, two-line passes were the mainstay of the game. This year’s NHL season will primarily be the result of skill rather than strength. It’s not entirely a bad thing, as the lighter the better when it comes to speed.
Long Live The Wooden Puck!
For the hardcore hockey fans out there, it’s not always about the latest and greatest equipment and materials used to make the puck. Some of us still like to believe that good old-fashioned hard work pays off and that all it takes is a little bit of ingenuity to bring success to a hockey team. For those who prefer to remain loyal to the old ways, there are still plenty of places you can find wooden pucks. You’ll notice that there aren’t any plastic or aluminum pucks in circulation. It’s the same material that was used hundreds of years ago and it’s still available in some areas. There aren’t any signs of artificial materials taking over the game any time soon.