Information on Ice Hockey Skates

Ice hockey skates are a part of the uniform that separates hockey from all other major sports. More than just an extra piece of equipment, they allow hockey players to glide across the ice at high speeds. To skate to your full potential, you need to choose the right type of skates, make sure they fit right and take care of them. Hockey skates typically cost $40 to $300.

  1. History

    • The first known ice skates were developed approximately 5,000 years ago in Finland. However, the first hockey-specific skates appeared in the early 1900s, around the time when ice hockey was first played. Ice hockey skates gained more visibility with the formation of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917. During the 1930s, when the sport was being broadcast live for the first time, ice hockey skates were selling rapidly, especially in Canada.

    Material

    • The first ice skates in Finland were made using animal bones with leather straps attached at each bone's end. In the early 1900s, players would mount metal blades to an ordinary pair of shoes and use those as skates. Today's ice hockey skate boots are made with molded plastic, synthetic leather and ballistic nylon. Goaltenders' skates are modified and have toughened plastic on the boot and a longer, less curvy metal blade.

    Size

    • Because the boot of an ice hockey skate is made to barely fit your foot, therefore reducing mobility, there is no relation between shoe size and skate size. It is common for an individual's skate size to be one or two sizes smaller than his shoe size. To determine the right skate size, wear your socks when trying on the skates and make sure your foot cannot move much, but that you still are comfortable. Skating with a loose fit can lead to injury.

    Brands

    • Three older brand names, CCM, Jofa and Koho, have joined forces and their products are now sold under the name of Reebok, making it the most important manufacturer of ice skates in the world. Mission-Itech, Easton and Bauer, which has partnered with brand name giant Nike, are the other major manufacturers of ice hockey skates. All of these companies make quality hockey skates, and most, if not all, professional hockey players today use skates of those brand names.

    Tips

    • 1. After each usage of hockey skates, clean the blade dry with a towel.

      2. Although it doesn't matter which type of laces you use on your skates, wax laces may keep your skates tighter.

      3. The number of times you sharpen your skates is up to you, but the more you use them, the more frequently you should sharpen them.

      4. If you play hockey as a forward, use lighter skates that allow quick turning. If playing defense, get skates that have more padding to block shots with less pain.