My thoughts in the spear thread have gotten me to thinking about all the uses for old hockey sticks. This is a VERY common item in households, vehicles, stores, etc. here (and I'm sure in many other places too). Since I'm thinking so much about it I wanted to write them all down...and since I'm doing that I figured I'd give you all a shot at the same time.
- Walking Stick
- Fishing Pole (one pole could be used to make several ice fishing rigs)
- Window lock (cut to length and put in a window to prevent it from being opened from the outside)
- Door Lock (propped against a door to prevent it from being opened)
- Tarp Pole (Drive a nail in the end to go through the grommet)
- Makeshift crutch(es)
- Staff for self defense
- Shaft of a spear
- Shaft of a harpoon
- Bow? (I'm sure there are some makes of stick which are flexible enough for this though I'm not sure I'd have the skill to make one)
- Club (I've seen many 'fish whackers' made from a length of hockey stick)
- Shelter (can be used in uncountable ways especially if you have screws or nails or are even just really good at lashing)
- Reenforcement material (strengthen a door, shutters, floor, beam, etc)
- Snow Sled (whole sticks could be lashed together to make a sled or a frame for one
- Stretcher (strong enough to make an old school canvas stretcher or several could be attached together to make a backboard.
- Splint for a leg or arm
- Kindling? (I'm not sure how well a laminate stick burns or how safe they burn with all the glue and fiberglass but an old school, all wood stick would always be dry and is already a good size for fire starting)
- Pack Frame (lashed or screwed together)
Granted you could use any stick for many of these tasks but sometimes trees aren't around (urban) and these days there is a strong public aversion to cutting down live foliage for any reason...and the hockey sticks just seem to be a more suitable choice for many of these tasks...if you have them handy.
I was never a big hockey player but even I went through quite a few sticks when I was younger...I regret not keeping them now!