# hockeytape.ca > The complete guide to hockey tape, made in Vancouver, Canada: what each type of hockey tape is for, step-by-step tutorials for taping a hockey stick by position (forward, defence, goalie), every common blade and knob style, documented player tape stories with sources, and an interactive 3D Tape Lab. Facts on this site are written for players in Canada and the United States. Player stories link to their sources. Canadian spelling is used (defence, colour); US readers search for defense and color. ## Guides - [Hockey Tape: Types, How to Tape a Stick, Styles | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/): The complete guide to hockey tape: cloth, grip and clear tape, stick wax, how to tape a hockey stick for every position, and a 3D Tape Lab. - [Hockey Tape Types: Cloth, Grip Tape, Stick Wax and Clear Tape](https://hockeytape.ca/tape-types/): What each kind of hockey tape is for: cloth tape for the blade, grip tape for the handle, stick wax, and clear tape for shin pads and socks. - [Ways to Tape a Hockey Stick: Blade, Knob and Position Styles](https://hockeytape.ca/styles/): Every common way to tape a hockey stick, shown in 3D: blade styles, knob styles, and how forwards, defence and goalies usually tape their sticks. - [Famous Hockey Stick Tape Jobs: Every Player Has a Story](https://hockeytape.ca/stories/): How Gretzky, Orr, Ovechkin, Crosby, Holtby and dozens more taped their sticks, and why. Documented stories with sources, from the wooden-stick era to the PWHL. - [The Lore of Hockey Tape: Rituals, Superstitions, Black vs White](https://hockeytape.ca/lore/): Taping a hockey stick is a ritual. The pre-game tape job, the tape ball, black versus white, and the traditions that come with every roll. - [Tape Lab: Design Your Hockey Stick Tape Job in 3D](https://hockeytape.ca/tape-lab/): Design your hockey stick tape job in 3D: forward, defence or goalie stick, tape colour, width, overlap, coverage and knob style. Share it with one link. ## Tutorials - [How to Tape a Hockey Stick: Forward, Defence, Goalie (3D)](https://hockeytape.ca/how-to-tape-a-stick/): Step-by-step tutorials for taping a hockey stick by position: forward, defence (defense) and goalie. Blade and knob, every step on a 3D stick. - [How to Tape a Hockey Stick (Forward), Step by Step in 3D](https://hockeytape.ca/how-to-tape-a-stick/forward/): Tape a forward's hockey stick step by step: a thin black blade wrap for puck feel and a small knob. Every step shown on a 3D stick you can turn. - [How to Tape a Defence (Defense) Hockey Stick, Step by Step](https://hockeytape.ca/how-to-tape-a-stick/defence/): Tape a defenceman's stick step by step: full, heavy-overlap waxed blade and a ridged ladder knob for one-handed control. Shown in 3D. - [How to Tape a Goalie Stick: Blade, Paddle, Grip and Knob](https://hockeytape.ca/how-to-tape-a-stick/goalie/): Tape a goalie stick step by step: blade, lower paddle, a blocker grip with a finger stop, and a big white knob. Every step shown in 3D. ## Knowledge base - [Hockey Tape Knowledge Base: Answers to Every Question | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/): 24 sourced answers about hockey tape: types, colours, brands, technique, league rules, wax, sock tape and goalie sticks. - [Black or White Hockey Tape: Does It Matter? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/black-vs-white-hockey-tape/): Black and white tape are made from the same cloth and both are legal. What actually differs, and the reasons players give for each. - [Friction Tape vs Cloth Tape: What's the Difference? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/friction-tape-vs-cloth-tape/): Friction tape is cloth tape that is tacky on the outside too. Here is how it differs from regular hockey tape, and the trade-off for your gloves. - [Full Blade, Mid-Blade or Half: How Much of the Blade to Tape | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/full-blade-vs-mid-blade-tape/): Full, mid-blade, heel half and toe half tape jobs compared: what each covers, what it leaves bare, and NHL players who use each. - [Goalie Paddle Tape and Blocker Grip: How to Set Them Up | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/goalie-paddle-and-blocker-grip/): Where your blocker hand holds a goalie stick, how to tape a grip and finger stop there, and how NHL goalies shape the shoulder of the paddle. - [Goalie Stick Knob Rules: Why the Knob Must Be White | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/goalie-stick-knob-rules/): NHL and IIHF rules require a white goalie stick knob at least 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick. What the rule says, why it exists and how it is enforced. - [Grip Tape or a Grip-Finish Stick: Which Is Better? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/grip-tape-vs-grip-stick/): Grip tape, a grip-coated shaft or a smooth one? How each works, what they cost you in feel and glove wear, and when tape still makes sense. - [Heel to Toe or Toe to Heel: Which Way Should You Tape? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/heel-to-toe-vs-toe-to-heel/): Both directions are legal and both are used in the NHL. What changes, what the common claims are, and how to decide for yourself. - [Hockey Canada and USA Hockey Rules on Stick Tape | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/hockey-canada-and-usa-hockey-tape-rules/): What the current Hockey Canada (2026-28) and USA Hockey (2025-29) rulebooks say about tape colour, covering the end of the shaft and stick limits. - [Hockey Tape Brands Compared: Renfrew, Howies, Lowry and More | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/hockey-tape-brands-compared/): A factual look at the main hockey tape brands: who makes them, where, what they are made of and the roll sizes they publish. - [Hockey Tape Widths and Roll Lengths Explained | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/hockey-tape-widths-and-roll-lengths/): Hockey tape is sold mostly in 1 inch (about 24 mm) and 1.5 inch (about 36 to 38 mm) widths. Roll lengths vary by brand. Here are real examples. - [How Big Should a Hockey Stick Knob Be? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/how-big-should-a-hockey-stick-knob-be/): Knob size is personal, but there are useful rules of thumb. How to size a knob to your glove, what the rules require, and why some pros go huge. - [How Do Goalies Tape Their Sticks? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/how-goalies-tape-their-sticks/): A goalie stick is taped in four places: blade, paddle, blocker grip and knob. What each zone is for, the rules that apply and what NHL goalies do. - [How Much Tape Does It Take to Tape a Hockey Stick? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/how-much-tape-to-tape-a-stick/): Rough maths for one blade job, how many jobs a roll gives you, and how long a roll lasts. Based on NHL blade limits and real roll lengths. - [How Much Should Hockey Tape Overlap on the Blade? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/how-much-to-overlap-hockey-tape/): Overlap from almost none to about half the tape width. What each amount changes, what guides recommend, and how to keep it even. - [How Often Should You Retape Your Hockey Stick? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/how-often-to-retape-a-hockey-stick/): Some NHL players retape before every game, others almost never. The signs that your tape job is done, and how to make one last longer. - [What Do NHL Rules Say About Stick Tape? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/nhl-rules-on-stick-tape/): NHL Rule 10 lets skaters use tape of any colour anywhere on the stick. Here is the exact scope, the goalie exception and the stick limits around it. - [How to Remove Old Hockey Tape and Residue Safely | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/removing-hockey-tape-residue/): Peel, warm and wipe: how to strip old tape and sticky residue off a hockey stick without scoring the blade, and what to avoid. - [Clear Tape or Sock Tape for Shin Pads? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/shin-pad-tape-clear-vs-sock/): Clear and coloured sock tape are the same stretchy polyethylene. How they differ from cloth tape, how to wrap shin pads and what to avoid. - [What Does Stick Wax Do, and How Do You Apply It? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/stick-wax/): Stick wax keeps snow and water out of cloth tape and adds a little tack. What it is made of, how to put it on, and when you can skip it. - [Does Tape Colour Affect What Goalies See? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/tape-colour-and-goalies/): Can black tape hide the puck? What NHL goalies actually say about reading shooters' tape, and why goalie knobs have to be white. - [Hockey Tape on Wet, Slushy and Outdoor Ice | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/tape-on-wet-and-outdoor-ice/): Wet tape gets heavy and loses feel. How to keep your tape job working on outdoor rinks, slushy ice and in humid arenas. - [Cloth vs Grip vs Clear vs Sock Tape: What's the Difference? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/types-of-hockey-tape-compared/): The four main hockey tapes do four different jobs. A side-by-side look at cloth, grip, clear and sock tape, and where each one goes. - [What Is Hockey Tape Made Of? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/what-is-hockey-tape-made-of/): Cloth hockey tape is a woven poly-cotton backing with a rubber-based adhesive. Here is what goes into cloth, grip, clear and friction tape. - [Why Do Hockey Players Tape Their Stick Blades? | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/knowledge/why-tape-a-hockey-stick-blade/): Tape grips the puck, softens passes and protects the blade. Here is what each benefit is based on, and why a few pros skip tape entirely. ## Blog - [The Hockey Tape Blog: Stories, Rituals and the Pros | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/): Reported features on hockey tape: how NHL goalies and equipment managers tape sticks, the black vs white debate, and the history of the roll. - [Black Tape vs White Tape: What the Pros Actually Use | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/black-tape-vs-white-tape/): Hockey's oldest gear argument, checked against the record: what NHL players and goalies say about black and white tape, and why. - [Gretzky, Baby Powder and Hockey's Strangest Tape Rituals | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/gretzky-baby-powder-strangest-tape-rituals/): Baby powder, surf wax, electrical tape from Newfoundland and a stick in the toilet: the documented tape and stick rituals of NHL players. - [How NHL Goalies Tape Their Sticks, and Why | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/how-nhl-goalies-tape-their-sticks/): Knobs, shoulders, puck-blackened blades: what current and recent NHL goalies actually do to their sticks, and the reasons they give. - [Inside the Equipment Room: How NHL Teams Handle Sticks | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/inside-the-nhl-equipment-room/): Sixteen hundred sticks a season, a stick room full of heat guns, and a tape job for every player: how NHL equipment staff keep sticks game-ready. - [Pride Tape: How a Roll of Tape Became a Statement | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/pride-tape-story/): From an Edmonton Kickstarter to an NHL ban reversed in days: the story of Pride Tape and the players who wrapped their sticks with it. - [A Short History of Hockey Tape | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/blog/short-history-of-hockey-tape/): From black friction tape on wooden sticks to cloth, grip coatings and blade stickers: how hockey tape changed, and what the record actually shows. ## Where to buy hockey tape in Canada - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Canada, by Province | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/): Local hockey stores and sporting goods chains that sell hockey tape in every Canadian province and territory, with addresses and store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Alberta | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/alberta/): Where to buy hockey tape in Alberta: 7 local stores and 6 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in British Columbia | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/british-columbia/): Where to buy hockey tape in British Columbia: 8 local stores and 6 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Manitoba | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/manitoba/): Where to buy hockey tape in Manitoba: 6 local stores and 5 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in New Brunswick | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/new-brunswick/): Where to buy hockey tape in New Brunswick: 6 local stores and 4 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Newfoundland and Labrador | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/newfoundland-and-labrador/): Where to buy hockey tape in Newfoundland and Labrador: 2 local stores and 4 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Northwest Territories | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/northwest-territories/): Where to buy hockey tape in Northwest Territories: 1 local stores and 1 sporting goods chain with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Nova Scotia | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/nova-scotia/): Where to buy hockey tape in Nova Scotia: 8 local stores and 4 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Nunavut | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/nunavut/): Where to buy hockey tape in Nunavut: 0 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Ontario | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/ontario/): Where to buy hockey tape in Ontario: 8 local stores and 6 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Prince Edward Island | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/prince-edward-island/): Where to buy hockey tape in Prince Edward Island: 2 local stores and 3 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Quebec | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/quebec/): Where to buy hockey tape in Quebec: 8 local stores and 7 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Saskatchewan | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/saskatchewan/): Where to buy hockey tape in Saskatchewan: 5 local stores and 5 sporting goods chains with store finders. - [Where to Buy Hockey Tape in Yukon | hockeytape.ca](https://hockeytape.ca/where-to-buy/yukon/): Where to buy hockey tape in Yukon: 1 local stores and 1 sporting goods chain with store finders. ## About this site - [Advertise on hockeytape.ca: Your Brand in the 3D Scene](https://hockeytape.ca/advertise/): Partner with hockeytape.ca: your tape or sticks in a live 3D scene, sponsored taping tutorials and Tape Lab presets, in front of players about to buy. - [Performance: How hockeytape.ca Is Built](https://hockeytape.ca/performance/): Live performance numbers from your own visit, and the techniques that make hockeytape.ca load instantly on any phone at the rink. ## Optional - [Full text of every page](https://hockeytape.ca/llms-full.txt): all guides, tutorials and stories in one Markdown file. - [Legal and policies](https://hockeytape.ca/legal/): privacy, cookies, terms of use, accessibility, copyright, trademarks, story submissions and advertising. No cookies or tracking are used. - [Sitemap](https://hockeytape.ca/sitemap.xml)