The Washington "PRO Reserves" Keep Growing

The Washington Capitals have long been a team that commands attention. Not just for their on-ice success, but also for the personalities and superstars that define the franchise.

In recent seasons, however, they’ve also quietly become one of the most interesting teams in the NHL from an equipment perspective. At the center of that intrigue is a subtle but meaningful trend. This trend being the growing number of players experimenting with an up-and-coming hockey stick brand that is steadily gaining traction at the sport’s highest level.

It all began just over two years ago with Alexander Ovechkin.

When the Capitals’ captain first stepped onto the ice using a stick that lacked any familiar branding, equipment enthusiasts immediately took notice. There were no bold logos, no recognizable graphics, and no obvious manufacturer cues.

Instead, the stick featured only Ovechkin’s personal logo and his nickname, “Ovie,” printed in the traditional pro-stock namebar area. For a player so closely associated with a major brand for much of his career, the move was unexpected and quite intriguing.

Those sticks are now known as PRO Reserve, a line of high-end, fully custom hockey sticks produced by a company based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ovechkin didn’t just dabble with them, either. He committed.

Over the following seasons, he continued to rely on PRO Reserve sticks, including during one of the most historic moments in hockey history. Last March, when Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, he did so with a PRO Reserve VS+ model in his hands.

That moment alone cemented the brand’s place in hockey lore, even if it remained largely under the radar to the casual fan.

Since then, PRO Reserve has quietly but steadily expanded its presence, particularly within the Washington Capitals’ locker room.

Right behind Ovechkin is defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who has been using PRO Reserve sticks for most of the 2025–26 season. Known for his two-way playing ability, Chychrun represents another high-profile endorsement, even if unofficial.

Most recently, Pierre-Luc Dubois joined the list, surprising gear watchers when he returned from injury just days ago using a PRO Reserve stick of his own. For a player of Dubois’ stature, making a stick change midseason is notable, and it further reinforces the idea that these sticks are earning genuine trust among elite players.

Earlier this season, Capitals forwards Aliaksei Protas and Brandon Duhaime were also spotted using PRO Reserve sticks for stretches of games. While they’ve since switched back to other setups, their experimentation still matters.

As of the Olympic break, the Capitals have three players actively using PRO Reserve sticks, with five different players having used them at some point during the season. For a brand still in its early growth phase, that level of adoption within a single NHL organization no less, is impressive.

The influence of PRO Reserve isn’t limited to Washington, either. Over the past year, several other NHL stars have been spotted briefly using these sticks. David Pastrnak and Tage Thompson both tested them, and Nathan MacKinnon notably used a PRO Reserve stick during the 2025 IIHF World Championship last spring. 

Those of course are not fringe players, but rather they’re some of the most dominant offensive forces in the game.

Another interesting case is Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Doan, who has actually played a significant number of games this season using a PRO Reserve stick. It was later discovered that the model he’s currently using was originally built for teammate Tage Thompson.

If Doan continues to feel comfortable, as he clearly has, it’s likely only a matter of time before he receives fully customized sticks bearing his own name and personal specifications.

On paper, the number of players using PRO Reserve sticks may not seem overwhelming. But context matters. When you consider the caliber of names involved, the intense competition from established industry giants, and the organic, word-of-mouth growth of the brand, it becomes clear that PRO Reserve is on the rise. 

This isn’t a gimmick or a fleeting trend, it’s a legitimate movement.

At this point, it feels inevitable that at least one more notable NHL player will give these sticks a shot before this season comes to a close.

Not to mention, with the Milano-Cortina Olympics just getting underway, who knows? An Olympian might just have a surprise in store, further elevating the profile of a brand that’s rapidly carving out its place in the modern hockey landscape.

Photo Credit: Bill Smith