Description
Stick tape comes in two forms. The original hockey stick tape was a type of friction tape. Back when hockey was first being played, hockey sticks were both rare and fragile. If a player’s stick developed a crack they needed a way to make it last longer. Friction tape was originally an electrical insulating tape and was readily available. Players found that wrapping the stick blade in friction tape helped the stick last longer and also found an added side benefit that it improved control of the puck. Friction tape has a very heavy cohesive coating of rubber on both sides. Pro hockey players still refer to this as “Gordie Howe tape” because he used it. Some players still use friction tape, but it is often dissuaded from use by arenas, as the black material making it up transfers onto the puck and causes sneaker-like streaks along the edge boards and glass of the rink.
