<P> Aluminium sticks were the first non-wood sticks to appear . Most aluminium sticks consist of a shaft made of an aluminium alloy and a wooden blade or composite blade, which is held in the shaft by glue and the compression of the shaft itself . There was a time when a majority of NHL players used aluminium sticks, but today all players use composite sticks . </P> <P> The main advantage aluminium sticks enjoy is their unparalleled durability . It is fairly rare for an aluminium shaft to be broken or damaged, even at the professional level, and since the blades can be easily replaced, a shaft will typically last for a relatively long period of time . Aluminium sticks will not suffer wear or warping like a wooden stick, and they can be manufactured with a great deal of consistency in flex and weight . The biggest disadvantage of aluminium sticks is their heavy or hard "feel", which is a result of the relative hardness of the metal and the imprecise joining of the stick and blade . </P> <P> Fiberglass, along with the traditional wood, was the first composite stick material, being added as laminate or coating to wooden sticks . Manufacturers have experimented with 100% fiberglass ice hockey sticks, but they suffered from poor "feel" and poor durability and never really caught on . Today, fiberglass is most commonly used as a composite with other materials, such as wood, graphite, or kevlar . Generally speaking, a higher density of material was needed in order for the players to perform . As of 2011, two 100% fiberglass sticks are available: the Warrior Disher and the Warrior Esquire . </P> <P> Graphite has become by far the most common building material for sticks used in the NHL, and it is growing rapidly in popularity for amateur and recreational players . Carbon fiber sticks were originally sold as shafts alone, much like their aluminium counterparts . "One piece" sticks, which consist of a single piece shaft and blade, have become the predominant type . </P>

When was the first composite hockey stick made