Abstract: An applique is disclosed for placement on a hockey stick for improving the engagement of the stick with a game piece. The applique includes a base member having a first surface and a second surface. An adhesive is provided on a second surface for adhesively attaching the second surface to the stick. An ordered array of substantially non-deforming protrusions or recesses are formed on the first surface for engaging a surface of a game piece, such as a hockey puck. The protrusions are designed to maximize the frictional engagement between the applique and the puck, to increase the user's ability to control the puck. In an alternate embodiment, an applique is disclosed having a series of direction influencing protrusions formed on the first surface for influencing the direction of deflection of the hockey puck off the first surface toward a predetermined direction.