MOD MONDAY 4/5/2021
Hockey players, like many other athletes, are creatures of habit. There isn’t a whole lot more indication of this than with how they tape their sticks.
The story of how and when hockey players started taping their blades is very muddy. There are tales of grandfathers and great grandfathers originally using pine tar or other sticky substances to protect their sticks. Although tape was invented around 1847, the first recorded incidents of sticks being taped are around 1900 to protect the wooden blades from soaking up water from the ice and snow.
Today, players use primarily cloth tape in black or white, or even fun colors to match their team or personality. Some players choose to use athletic tape or “grip” tape on the top of the stick as they have different texture and tackiness to standard cloth tape.
As the below video shows, there is no right or wrong way to tape a stick. Toe to heel, heel to toe, over the toe, candy cane stripe along the shaft… They all have a reason and purpose for that individual player. There are very few times that one may question how or why a stick is taped the way it is other than it’s not how you do it.
One thing to consider is the the size of the knob. In looking at the video, you’ll notice one common theme: small knobs on the tops of their sticks. Gone are the days of loading half a roll of tape for the biggest thing to hold on to or to make it easier to pick up off the ice. A large handle does little to help with stick handling, passing, or shooting, and can actually hinder this process if too large. For goalies, it also means that the shaft of the stick cannot be placed flat on the ice. Another thing to consider - 9this is seen often in younger or newer hockey players - is not removing old tape before re-taping the stick. New tape is pretty much useless if it’s over 4 layers of soggy or damaged old tape. The last thing to consider about taping your stick is when. Some players tape every game or two. Some go weeks or months. A good rule of thumb is if the tape is damaged - sliced or torn significantly - or if it’s peeling away from the blade, seems dry, or thread bare, it’s time for a refresh.
Watch the videos below for more insights on how some NHL players tape their sticks, then leave us a comment here or on our social media about how you tape and modify your sticks!
Dallas Stars Players Show How They Tape Their Stick Handles
BONUS: What's Behind Tim Stutzle & Arthur Kaliyev's Bizzare Tape Jobs?