How to Sharpen Goalie Skates

The quick movements that a hockey player performs during a game requires skate blades that are finely sharpened to allow for maximum maneuverability. However, goalkeepers tend to prefer their skates a bit duller, so they can easily glide back and forth in front of the goal. The blade's bottom has a small hollow groove to allow for gripping the ice and sharpening is performed by locking the skate into place over a rotating grinding wheel and shaving away enough metal to maintain this groove.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass
  • Sharpening machine
  • Blade-grinding wheel
  • Wheel-dressing diamond
  • Blade-finishing compound
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect your skate's groove using a magnifying glass. Note how deep the grove is and how steeply it is ground into the blade. The depth of the groove is known as the range of hollow (ROH) and the steepness of the edges is known as the bite angle. Goalie skates typically have a small range of hollow and a lower bite angle, resulting a blade that is more flat than deeply grooved.

    • 2

      Select the proper ROH setting from the dressing diamond's quill. Common measurements include 0.5 inch, 1 inch and 1.5 inch. A ROH of 1.5 inch is commonly used on goaltender skates, but you can refine this setting if desired.

    • 3

      Dress the wheel by turning on the machine and lightly passing the dressing diamond across the wheel several times. Dressing the wheel prepares it to grind the proper ROH and bite into the skate blade. Turn off the machine.

    • 4

      Insert the skate blade into the sharpening machine and secure it using the cam lever. Snug the blade into place by screwing down the cam adjusting screw on top of the lever.

    • 5

      Turn on the sharpening machine and touch the blade to the grinding wheel. Pass the length of the blade across the wheel three to four times. Allow the motion of the wheel to push the blade across it.

    • 6

      Finish the sharpened skate blade using an appropriate compound.