Why Do Players Tape the Blade of a Hockey Stick?

For a hockey player, taping the blade of his hockey stick is a sacred part of the game, as essential to hockey as ice. There are several reasons to tape a hockey stick. Some are practical, some are strange, but to a hockey player, each one is important.

  1. Control

    • Taping a hockey stick allows the blade to grip the puck better, providing better puck-handling.

    Visual

    • Players often choose a tape color that will contrast sharply with their blade so it will be more visible to teammates.

    Style

    • Each player eventually develops her own patterning for taping the blade, and this is a style she will usually not deviate from.

    Peace of Mind

    • The practiced routing of taping a blade is often an effective way to calm pre-game jitters.

    Superstition

    • Many players believe it is bad luck to not tape your blade before a big game.