Taping Hockey Sticks
A recent look at a locker room stick rack revealed an interesting fact, no two sticks are taped the same! What started as a practical means of keeping the puck from sliding off the blade and the gloves from slipping from the handle has turned into a personalized fashion statement.
The old hockey tradition of using black friction tape carefully overlapped heel to toe on the blade and white tape on the handle has been supplemented by a rainbow of color tapes twirled, twisted and wrapped to exhibit each player’s personal taste. Color coordination of the tape with uniforms apparently accessorizes the outfit nicely. Those players with a flair for these things even use specialty tapes displaying anything from US or Canadian flags, stars and even Army camouflage!
So what is the best? For those challenged for an answer, a Google internet search will produce at least fifty sites that will demonstrate taping, advanced taping, taping like a pro, taping to make a statement, taping mistakes to avoid, etc., etc. It is hard to believe you could screw up putting tape on a hockey stick, but apparently it is true !
Stick taping is a personal experience. Each player holding the stick knows the perfect tape job in necessary to insure the stick won’t screw up at the most crucial point of a game; when you have to shoot the puck in the net.
Let’s face it, stick taping is just another voodoo ritual imbedded in a game already loaded with superstition. At three dollars a roll one has to at least ask some questions. Does green tape help the player handle the puck better? Does red tape on the blade help the puck travel faster? Will multicolored striped blade add confusion to your deke? Can tape with Canadian Flags make the difference on the scoreboard?
If the player thinks so, then it must be true . Confidence is a fragile thing that in hockey is held together by tape. Don’t mess with it!
So what’s next in hockey fashion; monogrammed designer hockey bags in a kaleidoscope of colors?
