Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hockey stick shaft (10) with improved handling characteristics which is particularly useful for street hockey. The shaft has an elongated main body portion (11) and one or more rib portions (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) coextruded on the exterior surface of the main body portion, wherein the coefficient of friction of the main body portion is less than the coefficient of friction of the rib portion(s). The invention also includes a hockey stick (15) having a shaft with such characteristics.

Abstract: A mouthguard (10) has a U-shaped base (11) having an upper surface (16) and a lower surface (18). An inner wall (19) extends upwardly from an inner margin of the base upper surface. An outer wall (21) extends upwardly from an outer margin of the base upper surface. The inner and outer walls defined with the base upper surface a trough adapted to receive a person's upper teeth. The improvement comprises a recess (24) that extends into at least one of the inner wall and base proximate the wearer's front or incisor teeth, and extends between the base upper and lower surfaces. The recess is so positioned, configured and arranged as to enable the wearer to suck fluids from the trough through the recess when the mouthguard is installed such that the mouthguard will fit more closely then if such fluids were present in the trough.