PLAYER TIPS 

 Properly Taping Your Stick

Start by putting a strip on the bottom of your stick blade. It will add a protective layer to the bottom of the blade, which will also add some strength. Apply the tape beginning with the toe on the backside of the blade. Keep rolling the tape around the blade, slightly overlapping the last piece, until your desired length across the blade. If you were to put the tape side by side (like wallpapering), it would easily peel away. It is difficult to get an exact match and with the constant hitting of the puck, the tape would eventually lift up. Furthermore, the water would get into your stick. By overlapping the tape slightly, you create a sponge effect and seal.

The overlap method causes one side of the taping to feel smooth and one side to feel "bumpy" sort of like a step effect. Since you shoot the puck from heel to toe, it is important to have the smooth effect go in that same direction. If you were to tape your blade from heel to toe, when you shoot, the puck would catch slightly on each edge of the tape.

Goalies should also tape their blade from toe to heel.     Frugal tip: Some players only do a portion of the blade, for example, the toe half, the heel half or the middle of the stick blade. It is a matter of preference. When taping the butt of your stick you start with wrapping the very top of the butt-end with tape, preferably cloth tape. Wrap around your stick until you obtain your desired thickness.

Twist about 8 to 10 inches of tape so that the sticky side is exposed. Wrap it around the top of the stick, spiral fashion. It will look like a candy cane swirl. The distance between each twist should be a little bigger than the width of your fingers.

Finish by taking the roll of tape and wrap it over the twisted tape. Push down firmly to tighten the grip. There are 4 reasons to tape the end of your stick end:1) To keep the stick from sliding out of your top hand2) To make it easier to pick up your stick off the ice3) Follow rule 21(a), which states, "The end of the shaft of all sticks must be covered to protect against injury." 4) Taping your butt-end can also help extend the life of the glove palm