Does Tape Colour Affect What Goalies See?

The popular idea is simple: black tape on a black blade hides a black puck, so goalies struggle to pick it up. It sounds logical. But we could not find a study or a goalie who confirms it. What goalies do talk about is more interesting.

The camouflage idea

Howies, a tape maker, sums up both sides on its blog. Some players believe black tape makes shots harder to see. Some goalies say white tape is the hard one, because it blends into white ice. Howies does not pick a winner, and neither does any source we found. Treat “black hides the puck” as a belief, not a fact.

What goalies actually read: your tape job

In an October 2025 NHL.com feature by Kevin Woodley, several NHL goalies said tape helps them recognise who is shooting.

• Sam Montembeault said he can name the handedness and tape colour of nearly every NHL player from memory.
• Joey Daccord said veterans are easy to read by tape colour and whether they tape the toe. Rookies are harder.
• Matt Murray said he looks at blade shape, lie and shooting habits, and notices right away when a shooter changes tape.
• Philipp Grubauer said the blade and body language tell him the most, though he knows many tape jobs from familiarity.

Not every goalie works this way.

• Jakub Dobes said he ignores tape and only checks whether the shooter is left- or right-handed.
• Igor Shesterkin said he focuses on whether the shot is a one-timer and what kind of player is shooting.
• Jonathan Quick said he struggles to identify even some teammates by their tape and watches where the puck sits relative to the shooter’s feet.

“Tape color and if they don’t tape the toe or do tape the toe, I would say most goalies will tell you they know who everyone is.” (Joey Daccord, NHL.com, 2025)

So the useful point for a skater is not “black hides the puck.” It is that a distinctive tape job can tell a goalie who you are.

Goalies tune their own tape for visibility

In a January 2024 NHL.com feature, Woodley reported that:

• Carter Hart rubs a puck over the white tape on his blade to make black marks.
• Linus Ullmark puts black marks on the top, bottom and corner of his blade so it is easier to see against white ice.

That is the reverse of the camouflage idea: goalies adding dark marks so they can see their own stick.

Why goalie knobs must be white

NHL Rule 10.2 requires a knob of white tape or another league-approved material on a goalie stick, at least 1/2 in thick. Former goalie Mike McKenna explained the origin in Daily Faceoff in 2021. Before video review, goal judges behind the net helped decide whether the puck crossed the line, and a black knob could be mistaken for a puck. McKenna argues the rule is outdated now. It is still in the rulebook. See goalie stick knob rules.

What this means for you

• Skaters: pick tape colour for feel and looks. If you face the same goalies every week, a plain, common tape job gives away less than a unique one.
• Goalies: you can mark your own white tape for visibility, as Hart and Ullmark do, but keep your knob white if your league follows NHL-style rules.

For the wider argument, see black or white hockey tape.