How to Tape a Hockey Stick

Okay, Dawson, we're here in the New Jersey Devils dressing room. But actually, it's the New York Giants dressing room because you're at MetLife. Before you teach me one of the uh tricks of the trade, which is taping a hockey stick. First, talk about your experience practicing on that ice out there. Because that's epic.

Yeah, no, it was pretty special. It's the type of event that you know you're gonna remember for a lifetime and cherish it. So, out there tonight it was great to know, just feel the wind on your face and um all the guys were smiling for sure.

So we're talking hockey.

Yep.

One of the most important things got to tape a stick, right?

Yeah.

Okay, walk me through this. Walk how I do it? Of course you're gonna teach it.

Yeah. So I I use black tape. I haven't used white since I was in junior and I was like 17 and I switched it over.

Why?

Why, I just changed it up and then all of a sudden like it just you know players do that sometimes. Like you just want to change it up, change a little thing and then maybe you roll with it. So, I just had a few like good games with the black tape and I never switched back. So this is like a superstition now.

Oh, I wouldn't say superstition.

It's a preference I would say. I start from the the heel. That's called the heel. Yep. The heel of the blade and the toe. And usually I put my first strip up along this line here, you can see the three uh triangles.

Yeah, here.

I usually yeah, I usually place it along that.

Uh-huh.

leave it a little bit. See ya. Leave a little bit on the back. Buckle it over.

Okay, great.

And then I turn every time and just roll it off my hand and look on every every one.

Yeah, I just keep on twisting it and going around and around. Oh my goodness. No way. Uh-oh.

See like that's bad. I'd probably redo it, but no.

Can I go back like this?

No, you can't. Uh, we'll allow it for your stick right now.

Okay. No, it's too thick. I'm kinda messy.

No, that's alright. Okay. And then pretty much when I get some guys end it here, everyone does it a little bit different, but

Uh-huh.

Um I just flatten it out every time and And then I'll take my scissors after and cut it all down.

Where's the This is amazing. How many layers do you do?

How many layers? I usually go Until, so you can see like right here it's single.

Yeah. Okay.

So I'll go until it's it's doubled. So like right now, this side's finished now.

Yeah.

And then uh I just quadrupled, but that's okay. If I look over here I I can still get a little bit here on the toe. You know, during the period you'll get a cut going through it and you'll re-tape it and

In the middle of the game?

Yeah. No, wait, you're supposed to use scissors, not your teeth.

No, I always no, it's easier with your teeth on this one. Really? We'll rip it.

No, not me. No, no, no, no, no, no. You can use a scissors on your wrist. Thank you. Okay. Perfect.

Okay. No, don't fold that one now. You got to cut it. Oh shoot. See.

Yeah. See. See, you leave that and then you got to go cut the corners off. Okay. Then smooth it. Oh no. We can probably trim that one off again.

Okay. That?

Yep. Okay. And then there's your preference. If you think that's smooth enough, it's good for you.

Would you play in a game with

Yeah, it could make do. Listen, I think you was going more until you backtracked and you went back the stick and back up again. So don't duct yourself. Just go go over. Yeah. Okay. And I'll finish off mine too and Okay. I'll use this one tomorrow.

Are you going to use it tomorrow?

Yeah, this one's my game one. So.

Wait, no way.

It should I'll test them out. I'll see if I'll tape up a new one. It depends the feeling in the morning. Sometimes I'll tape up a brand new one and um see how it feels. Sometimes you just have a feeling on if you like the stick or you don't. And then usually just when I'm done I I fold it off, brush it. And

okay, what's the thing about the wax?

I don't use wax. Some guys use it, uh keeps the snow off your stick, but I find like it's just when you get it it's preference you get used to it. Um, I find it makes it too slippery and Yeah. I'll just scrape off the snow instead and then re-tape it when I have to, but I'm more pretty basic on that. I've used the same flex, uh pretty much the same height, same curve since like I was in juniors, like 15. Yeah. So I haven't switched much. The only time is like when you switch it is like when a new model comes out, but I keep all the basic specs the same. So I've just been using yeah, same thing. This is pretty unique up here. I use actually like electrical tape, which is very uncommon. No one really uses it and

Aren't you glad I didn't ask you?

Yeah. It would have took too long. But wait, this is electrical tape. Yeah, I've used that ever since my dad used it and I use it ever since I was a kid. So I just stuck with it and Um throughout my full career. I I've just haven't seen a reason why to switch it yet. And as a kid, like didn't wear your gloves. Like your gloves last longer. So I don't have to switch them as much here either. Yeah. I'm not a big fan of new gloves, so, um it's great for me. And like I said, it's just preference. I've loved it.