When it comes to NHL players and their gear, the line between obsession and superstition can get pretty thin. For Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, that line is soaked—literally. In a recent Bauer Hockey video featuring the Hughes brothers in conversation with veteran star Patrick Kane, Quinn peeled back the curtain on some of the quirks and challenges that define his day-to-day routine on the ice.
And yes, it includes elbow pads, baby powder, and soggy equipment at Rogers Arena.
Rogers Arena: The NHL’s Unexpected Sauna
Quinn Hughes revealed something that Canucks fans might have suspected but rarely hear confirmed: Rogers Arena can feel like a rainforest.
“It is so wet at our rink in Rogers,” Hughes said. “I have to put [my elbow pads] on the dryer every period.”
Humidity is no joke in Vancouver, especially during hockey season when the rain never seems to stop. The arena’s aging infrastructure doesn’t help. With no dehumidifiers in place and doors flung open for more than 18,000 fans on game nights, the Canucks battle not just their opponents—but the environment. That excess moisture can wreak havoc on gear and ice conditions alike. Even Steven Stamkos once called Rogers the worst ice he’s ever played on.
Yet for Hughes, it’s part of the job. He opts for elbow pads that feel loose enough to let him move but not so tight that they trap the sweat and become unbearable. It’s a delicate balance, one that many NHL players know all too well.
Baby Powder and Stick Grip: A Delicate Dance
If wet elbow pads weren’t enough, Hughes also struggles with another familiar problem: sticky grip tape.
“I use a new stick every game,” said Hughes. “Sometimes, when my grip tape gets sticky on my glove, and then I can’t move my glove, I hate that. So, then I’ll throw baby powder on.”
It’s an old-school trick with practical roots. Baby powder helps neutralize the tackiness of grip tape, giving players more freedom with their top hand—the most crucial part of stickhandling, passing, and shooting. Some players even apply it directly to the palm of their gloves to prevent wear.
Wayne Gretzky did it. Jamie Oleksiak does it. And Hughes is carrying on the tradition.
While many NHLers cycle through gloves like fast fashion—Patrick Kane says he uses a new pair every game—Hughes keeps it simple.
“I’ll use probably two pairs [in a season],” he admitted.
Maybe it’s the baby powder. Maybe it’s just Hughes being Hughes: focused, efficient, and always dialed into what works.
The Goals That Stick With You
The Bauer video wrapped on a more sentimental note, asking players to reflect on the most memorable goal they’ve scored with a Bauer Vapor stick. For Quinn Hughes, the answer offered insight not just into his skills—but into his mindset.
“I was praying for a goal,” he said, recalling a particular moment when everything came together.
It was a lighthearted segment, with Kane and the Hughes brothers trading memories, laughs, and chirps. Jack Hughes even needled Kane over a goal he scored while Kane was on the ice—“When I zipped one right past your feet?”—a reminder that NHL players are always keeping receipts.
A Peek Behind the Curtain
What makes interviews like this so compelling isn’t just the humor or behind-the-scenes trivia. It’s the human side of the game. Hearing Quinn Hughes talk about soggy elbow pads and baby powder makes the grind of a long NHL season feel a bit more relatable.
It’s also a reminder: no matter how effortless these athletes make it look on the ice, they’re constantly tinkering, adjusting, and adapting. Whether it’s battling Vancouver’s humidity, fine-tuning stick grip, or cherishing that one unforgettable goal, players like Hughes show us that greatness often lies in the smallest details.
And maybe, just maybe, in a well-placed sprinkle of baby powder.
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