A player’s safety while playing ice-hockey is of utmost importance as it can be a very risky and a dangerous sport. There are all kinds of different safety equipments available nowadays, to protect the players. Hockey tape is another one of those safety equipments for the protection of players.
Two Types of Hockey Tape
There are two kinds of hockey tape used by ice hockey players: stick (or blade) tape and shin tape.
Stick tape comes in two forms. The first is a cloth-based self-adhesive, made of non-elastic cloth or synthetic fibers, and has been used for many years. Depending on the level of play, this tape may only last one or two games on the blade of a hockey stick. This tape can be used for:
- Taping the stick handle to allow for a better grip
- Taping the stick blade to protect it from wearing and provide a grip on the puck
- Taping the lower part of the stick shaft to prevent damage from another player hacking at the stick
- Taping the blade proceeding from heel to toe also allows for a player to impart more spin on a puck, adding to a shot or pass’ accuracy
The second type are rubber tapes developed in the last few years. These are engineered with a rubber face for the front and back of the blade, with a peel and stick adhesive already applied. These rubber stick tapes last longer than cloth tape.
Shin tape is a medical-type tape, used on shin pads or socks over the shin pads to help keep them in position. The pressure-sensitive tape is self-adhesive and water resistant, and is elastic so that there is no risk of cutting off circulation to the legs. Shin tape is available in a variety of colors, with clear tape being the most popular. Shin pad tape is discarded after use. It is also used to tape the ankles of an unskilled player.
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