Tape & Wax Your Hockey Stick
What does tape do?
The easiest and most effective thing you can do to prolong the life of your hockey stick blades is to tape and wax them very well. Since you naturally lose grip on the puck if your blades are wet, taping the blade of your stick prevents moisture from building up on the blade and keeps the puck from sliding off.
Always Tape The Bottom of The Blade
You will want to cut a strip of cloth tape to cover the bottom of the hockey stick blade and around the toe 180 degrees. Make sure the tape is centered along the edge of the blade itself. It’s also a good idea to make sure the edge of the blade is smooth before applying the tape. Decide whether you prefer to tape from toe-to-heel (more resistance) or heel-to-toe (less resistance). There's no right or wrong way. Wind the tape around the blade, overlapping layers by about half the width of the tape as you go. Once you tape the entire toe area use scissors to trim excess tape.
This will greatly prevent the premature breakdown of the blades caused by moisture and board battles.
Once your hockey stick blade has been taped, take a puck and rub it along the tape area, in the heel to toe direction. This will create a smooth surface for the newly attached tape and will also bind it well with the blade.
Waxing the stick blade is a popular method used to preserve tape.
Apply a thin layer of the stick wax to the blade area which you have just taped and the bottom of the blade (the part that comes in contact with the ice). The layer of wax makes the bottom of the blade slick and also provides a watertight layer of protection to keep the tape from unraveling due to moisture. Wax increases the life of the tape and ultimately your stick by preventing water from settling on the tape. It also helps while you take shots, by reducing friction between the ice and your stick blade while striking the puck.
Whenever possible after use try to store your stick at moderate temperatures to allow it to effectively dry out. If a wet stick is stored at freezing temperatures this will only shorten its life span and cause your stick to prematurely crack and separate at stress points at the blade bottom from a repeated freezing and thawing process.
Another benefit to waxing your blade is the “softness” it provides when handling the puck. It may not seem like much, but a player with good hands can feel the subtle cushioning the wax provides.