The PROTO² has been generating buzz since its release. Let’s take a closer look at its features to help you decide if it’s the right stick for your game.

Graphics

I would best describe the sheen of this stick as “selectively iridescent,” with a very specific colour change. The colours are meant to pop, and pop they do… quite literally, as you will see.

The black version showcases the carbon layering along the shaft and blade, which is a very clean, standard look you'll see on most sticks. The white variation follows the same layout, but swaps the exposed carbon for a crisp, white finish across most of the stick's exterior. Nothing too wild here. The real statement piece of the stick is in the coloured part of the graphics.

Bauer designed the PROTO² with offset pink and cyan along the Bauer and PROTO² logos—if you think it looks like Retro 3D or an anaglyph, then you’d be correct. Not only are the stick graphics designed to look striking on the ice, but they also have a vintage flair that feels like a nod to a golden age of 3D movies.

Maybe now is the time to crack out the pink or cyan-tinted visors, if you have any on hand (for whatever reason).

PROTO Family -

One really interesting aspect of the PROTO² is that it’s technically part of its own family of sticks. What began simply as an innovation stick—just something with features to try out—quickly became the catalyst for a Bauer rebuild, specifically in their mid kick hockey sticks. We’ve seen three families in this category the past few years: Nexus, PROTO, and Supreme. All with slightly different features and focuses, all slightly different parts of this evolution.

The PROTO² is a mid kick stick, which means its main goals are powerful shots and precise accuracy.

The Nexus family was known to have an ER Spine along the shaft, which was a pentagonal shape meant to fit naturally in your hand. This was great for players who wanted to maximize their control of the puck, and a lot of players loved it—but some still wanted a mid-kick profile with a more traditional shape. For those players, the PROTO² is the answer.

Shaft

Of course, the graphics, flex profile, and shaft geometry are not the only major appeals of the stick. Like its predecessor, the PROTO² uses Boron technology and materials, which involves combining carbon fibres with boron fibres in key areas of the stick. Boron serves multiple purposes. For one, it's lighter than carbon, which makes the overall stick noticeably lighter than most mid kick options. This is kind of big, considering mid kick sticks are often considered the heavier profile.

On the topic of weight, the PROTO² might feel even lighter in your hands than what the specs say. This is because Bauer optimized the balance point, so you won’t slow down your puck-handling no matter how or where you hold the stick.

The other feature that boron provides is a snappier release. Talk to nearly anyone who’s tried a Bauer stick infused with boron, and they will probably tell you how much they love the extra pop it adds on the shot. This is because boron is more rigid than carbon, so when you bend the stick, it recoils much harder and faster, resulting in a stronger release.

Blade

The biggest upgrade in the PROTO², though, is in the blade. This stick uses an exclusive PROTO² blade core, upgraded from the previous iteration. This new core is noticeably lighter than its predecessor, improving puck feel while maintaining that explosive pop that players love. To further increase this stick’s overall versatility, the blade’s build is also designed to help you stickhandle confidently in tight spaces while getting shots off quicker under pressure. If that sounds like a low kick profile to you, you’re not wrong. The PROTO²’s features make it a strong option for just about anyone willing to give it a try.

The PROTO² is built around offering a balanced mid kick that delivers powerful pop on the release. The blade core works seamlessly with the shaft's flex profile to store energy efficiently and unload it with a crisp, accurate snap.

Boron is also present in the PROTO² blade (on 40-flex and up models), adding ultra-light rigidity that whips shots out faster while still optimizing the stick’s strength-to-weight ratio.

Final Thoughts - Is This Stick Right for You?

Everyone I’ve talked to who owns a PROTO² has said that it’s probably one of the best sticks they’ve ever played with. The biggest strength in this stick family is definitely the integration of boron fibres. That snap on release is just so hard to beat, and of course, the more you like your shot and how it feels, the more enjoyable the game will be.

Because of its variable features, it’s very much a stick for nearly any kind of player. Not only does it include that mid kick explosive power and control, but it's also responsive enough for quick releases.

One of Bauer’s standout strengths when it comes to their hockey sticks, particularly in their mid kicks, is the balance point. The PROTO²’s balance point sits quite high on the stick—close to the middle and in a very precise spot. That’s a major reason it feels so nice in your hands; this design means it’s neither top nor bottom heavy, which is also why it might not even feel like a traditional mid kick stick.

I would say, even if you’ve avoided mid kicks until now, don’t write this one off just yet. Try it out in your local store, or just hold it in your hands for a bit—it might be a solid option to consider as your next stick.