For decades, hockey sticks have largely been designed around the biomechanics, strength profiles, and playing tendencies of male athletes. While female players have used the same elite-level equipment successfully, there has always been one lingering question:
What would happen if a hockey stick was designed specifically for women from the ground up?
CCM set out to answer that question with the launch of the CCM FTW Pro Hockey Stick.
Introducing the CCM FTW Pro Hockey Stick
Rather than simply releasing a lighter version of an existing stick, CCM collaborated with elite female hockey players to create a stick engineered around how women shoot, pass, stickhandle, and generate power. The result is one of the most unique hockey stick releases in recent years.
In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about the CCM FTW Pro Hockey Stick, including its technology, performance characteristics, ideal player profile, and how it differs from traditional elite hockey sticks.
What Does FTW Mean?
FTW stands for For The Women.
The CCM FTW project was developed after extensive research involving female athletes at the professional and elite amateur levels. CCM's goal wasn't simply to market an existing stick to women—it was to understand the specific needs and playing styles of female hockey players and build a product around those findings.
The FTW Pro represents the culmination of that research.
Why Design A Hockey Stick Specifically For Women?
Many hockey players wonder whether a stick designed for women actually makes a difference.
The answer lies in biomechanics.
Studies conducted throughout hockey have shown that female players often generate force differently than male players during shooting motions. Differences in upper-body strength, lower-body engagement, and shooting mechanics can affect how efficiently a player loads and releases a stick.
CCM discovered that many female athletes preferred:
- Softer-loading shafts
- Enhanced puck feel
- Improved control during stickhandling
- Faster shot release
- Increased responsiveness
Rather than forcing players to adapt to existing designs, CCM built a stick that works with these preferences.
The result is a stick that feels effortless to load while maintaining elite-level performance.
CCM FTW Pro Hockey Stick Overview
The CCM FTW Pro is an elite-level performance stick designed to maximize:
- Shot speed
- Quick release
- Puck control
- Comfort
- Responsiveness
- Consistency
It incorporates several technologies borrowed from CCM's most advanced stick lines while introducing features specifically chosen based on feedback from female players.
Hybrid Kickpoint Technology
One of the biggest performance drivers in the FTW Pro is CCM's Hybrid Kickpoint.
What Is A Hybrid Kickpoint?
A hybrid kickpoint creates a hinge effect in the shaft, allowing the stick to load efficiently regardless of shooting style.
This means players can generate power on:
- Wrist shots
- Snap shots
- Quick-release shots
- One-timers
- Slap shots
Instead of requiring perfect shooting mechanics to fully load the stick, the FTW Pro responds naturally to a variety of shot types.
Benefits Of The Hybrid Kickpoint
The hybrid profile offers:
- Faster energy transfer
- Quicker release
- More versatility
- Improved shot consistency
- Greater responsiveness
For female players who prioritize speed and accuracy over sheer shooting force, this design creates a noticeable advantage.
Nanolite Shield Technology
Weight has become one of the most important performance factors in modern hockey sticks.
The CCM FTW Pro features Nanolite Shield Technology, CCM's advanced carbon layering system.
What Is Nanolite Shield?
Nanolite Shield is a high-performance carbon construction process that strategically layers lightweight carbon fibers throughout the stick.
The goal is simple:
Create a stick that is both:
- Extremely lightweight
- Exceptionally durable
Traditionally, reducing stick weight can compromise durability. Nanolite Shield minimizes that tradeoff by optimizing how the carbon layers are positioned throughout the shaft and blade.
On-Ice Benefits
Players will notice:
- Faster stickhandling
- Quicker reaction times
- Reduced fatigue
- Improved maneuverability
- Enhanced puck movement
The lighter feel helps players maintain control throughout games and long tournament weekends.
Round "R" Geometry
Comfort is often overlooked when discussing hockey sticks, but it can dramatically affect performance.
The FTW Pro utilizes CCM's increasingly popular Round "R" Geometry.
What Is Round "R" Geometry?
The shaft features:
- Rounded corners
- Streamlined shape
- Concave sidewalls
This design creates a more natural feel in the hands.
Why It Matters
A comfortable shaft profile allows players to:
- Grip the stick naturally
- Transition quickly during stickhandling
- Reduce hand fatigue
- Maintain better control
Many players describe the Round "R" geometry as one of the most comfortable shaft shapes CCM has ever produced.
X-Soft Blade Technology
One of the most unique features of the FTW Pro is its blade construction.
CCM incorporated an X-Soft Blade, which was reportedly the most requested blade profile among female professional players during the development process.
What Is An X-Soft Blade?
The X-Soft Blade provides increased flexibility and feel compared to stiffer blade constructions.
This creates greater connection between player and puck.
Benefits Of The X-Soft Blade
Players gain:
- Enhanced puck feel
- Improved stickhandling control
- Better reception of passes
- Increased confidence in tight spaces
- More precise puck placement
For playmakers and skilled forwards, the X-Soft Blade may be the stick's biggest selling point.
The blade gives players excellent awareness of the puck at all times, helping create a more intuitive feel during gameplay.
FT Microfeel Grip Technology
Control remains a major focus throughout the FTW Pro design.
CCM added FT Microfeel, a raised grip texture located along the lower edges of the shaft's mid-section.
How FT Microfeel Works
The raised texture creates additional contact points between the player's hands and the stick.
This subtle enhancement improves grip security without feeling overly tacky.
Advantages
FT Microfeel helps players:
- Maintain stick control
- Improve hand positioning
- Increase confidence during puck battles
- Enhance shooting consistency
- Execute quicker stickhandling movements
The technology becomes especially valuable during high-speed transitions and pressure situations.
Sigma ST2X Carbon Weave
The FTW Pro also incorporates Sigma ST2X Spread Tow Technology.
This is the next evolution of CCM's premium carbon construction platform.
What Is Sigma ST2X?
Sigma ST2X improves manufacturing consistency through advanced carbon fiber weaving techniques.
The result is:
- Greater strength
- Better durability
- Improved responsiveness
- More consistent performance
Every stick performs closer to design specifications, reducing variations from one stick to another.
Why Players Benefit
The improved consistency means players can expect:
- Predictable flex behavior
- Reliable shot release
- Better long-term performance
- Increased confidence with every shot
How Does The CCM FTW Pro Perform On The Ice?
After examining the technology, the next question becomes:
How does it actually perform?
The FTW Pro excels in four key areas.
1. Quick Release
The hybrid kickpoint loads effortlessly and creates a fast release that benefits forwards, playmakers, and offensive-minded defensemen.
2. Elite Puck Feel
The X-Soft Blade delivers exceptional touch and control.
Receiving passes, handling pucks through traffic, and making creative plays feel natural and responsive.
3. Lightweight Feel
Nanolite Shield construction creates a stick that feels incredibly light in the hands without sacrificing performance.
4. Comfort
The Round "R" geometry and FT Microfeel grip combine to create one of the most comfortable stick handling experiences CCM offers.
Who Should Use The CCM FTW Pro?
The FTW Pro is ideal for:
Female Elite Players
The stick was designed specifically with competitive female players in mind.
Playmakers
Players who rely on puck control, passing, and creativity will appreciate the enhanced blade feel.
Quick-Release Shooters
Athletes who score through speed, deception, and accuracy rather than pure power will benefit from the hybrid kickpoint.
Competitive Youth Players
Many developing female athletes can benefit from using equipment designed around their biomechanics and playing style.
Is The CCM FTW Pro Only For Women?
No.
While the FTW Pro was designed specifically around feedback from female athletes, any player can use the stick.
The technologies that make the FTW Pro effective—lighter weight, enhanced puck feel, improved responsiveness, and quicker loading—can benefit players regardless of gender.
However, its design philosophy was centered around maximizing performance for female hockey players, making it one of the first elite sticks to genuinely prioritize their needs throughout the development process.
Bauer's Answer: The New Fly-W and Fly-G Protective Lines
CCM isn't the only company investing in women's hockey equipment, designed specifically for female hockey players. Bauer recently introduced its new Vapor Fly-W protective collection for women, along with the Vapor Fly-G line for girls, representing one of the most comprehensive women's-specific protective equipment launches the sport has seen. Rather than simply resizing existing men's gear, Bauer designed the Fly-W shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and hockey pants around female anatomy and fit preferences. Features such as deeper knee caps, shortened forearm protection, contoured chest and rib coverage, wider protection in key areas, and adjustable fit systems were all developed to provide a more natural fit while maintaining elite-level protection and mobility. Bauer states that the Fly-W collection was "meticulously crafted" to meet the needs of women pushing the game forward, while the Fly-G line brings many of the same design principles to younger female players who are still developing their game. The result is equipment that feels less bulky, stays in place more effectively, and allows players to move more naturally on the ice—an increasingly important trend as manufacturers recognize that female athletes benefit from gear designed specifically for their bodies rather than adapted from men's equipment.
Final Thoughts: A Major Step Forward In Hockey Equipment Design
The CCM FTW Pro Hockey Stick represents more than just another stick launch.
It marks a shift in how hockey equipment is developed.
By listening directly to female athletes and incorporating their feedback into every stage of design, CCM created a product that addresses real performance needs rather than simply adapting existing equipment.
The result is a lightweight, responsive, and highly controllable hockey stick that excels in the areas many female players value most.
Whether you're a competitive youth player, collegiate athlete, professional player, or simply someone looking for exceptional puck feel and quick-release performance, the CCM FTW Pro deserves serious consideration.
As hockey continues to grow worldwide, products like the FTW Pro demonstrate that the future of equipment design is becoming increasingly player-focused—and that's a win for everyone.
