The Tale Of NHL Stick Tape

In the old days everyone wrapped their blade in black. Howe, Orr, Gretzky, all the greats, all the bad asses, everyone. At some point white tape entered the fray yielding today's relatively even split between the two.

Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Semin, Kane, Alfredsson, Spezza, Heatley, Stamkos, and Daniel and Henrik Sedin roll white while Crosby, Zetterberg, Thornton, Iginla, Datsyuk, Savard, Lecavalier, Marleau, Parise, Backstrom, and Carter are sticking with black.

On the blueline Niedermayer, Lidstrom, Chara, Streit, and Green are the ebony to Pronger, Kronwall, Phaneuf, Ohlund, and Bouwmeester's ivory.

With no discernible trends by nationality, age, team or position it's safe to assume stick tape color remains the purview of personal preference.

The NHL may, however, be in for a colorful future as Rule 19(a) provides "adhesive tape of any color may be wrapped around the stick at any place for the purpose of reinforcement or to improve control of the puck". Look for the remainder of the rainbow coming to a rink near you.