THE SKATE BLADES
The Blades and Blade Design

The blades of well-made hockey skates have high quality blades that are made of heat-tempered steel.  They retain a sharp edge despite extremely rough use. Poor quality blades nick and dull easily and have to be sharpened frequently. There are several brands of blades. Players can buy their favorite blades and have them mounted on their boots.

•  Each skate blade, from toe to heel, is designed with two knifelike edges separated by a groove (hollow). The function of the hollow is to expose the edges, enabling them to cut into the ice more effectively.

•  The shape of the hockey skate blade is convex (curved). This curved shape is called the rock, or radius, and resembles a crescent moon or the legs of a rocking chair. The rock (radius) of the blade makes it possible for skaters to maneuver in tight curves and circles. If the blades were straight like those of speed skates, hockey players could gain speed when skating straight ahead, but it would be difficult to weave, cut, or execute sharp turns. 

•  Goalies move in a straight line forward, backward, or sideways rather than to perform weaving or circular maneuvers.  Therefore their blades are almost straight, not highly rockered. Curved blades also would hinder their ability to make skate saves. Goaltenders need their blades to be dull enough in order to easily slide sideways across the goal crease. 

Sharpening the Blades

•  Blades should be sharpened by an expert and should be sharpened when they no longer dig crisply into the ice.

•  Some pro hockey players sharpen their skates after every game; some even sharpen them after each period. However, this isn’t necessary or even desirable for most nonprofessional players; excessive sharpening shortens the life of the blades.

•  Blades can be sharpened so that the hollow is either shallow or deep.  A deep hollow may make it difficult to execute a smooth, effective stop because the edges can unexpectedly grab the ice. Too shallow a hollow may make it difficult to dig into the ice (for pushing or curving).

•  Children and small adults require sharper blades and a relatively deep hollow in order for the edges to dig into the ice readily. Heavier people can use less sharp blades and less of a hollow.

•  Many high level hockey players have their blades sharpened with a longer radius and a shallower hollow. A longer radius means more blade length is in contact with the ice which in turn means that more distance is covered on each glide. A shallower hollow means the edges won’t overly “grab” the ice so there is less friction against the ice during each glide so more distance is covered on each glide. These two factors combine to increase speed.

•  Sharply rockered blades (shorter radius) can make balancing more difficult because there is less blade length in contact with the ice. They may allow for tighter turns but the benefits of this do not outweigh the benefits of the increased speed that a longer radius provides.

•  Do not have too much blade ground off from the very front or back of the blade. The front (toe) is needed for quick starts. The back (heel) is like the rudder of a ship; it is needed for stability.

Testing the Sharpening

•  If the blades are properly sharpened, the inside and outside edges are level with each other. To test the sharpening, place a coin horizontally on the upturned blade. Study the angle of the coin. If it is perfectly level, the edges are even.  If the coin tilts to either side, they are not. Take the skates back for re-sharpening; if one edge is higher than the other, skating will be impaired.

•  If the sharpener isn’t careful the radius (curve) of the blade may increase with progressive sharpenings. When this happens, too little blade is in contact with the ice. Let the sharpener know precisely how sharp, how much hollow, how much rocker you want, and where you want the high point of the rocker to be.

     Note: Forwards generally prefer the high point of the rocker to be just behind the middle of the blade; defenders prefer it to be just in front of the middle of the blade.

•  Some players make and keep a template of their blades. To do this, trace an outline of the blades after the first couple of sharpenings. After each sharpening, measure the blades against the template and make sure that they conform to it. Also, ask the sharpener to hand stone the blades after each sharpening. This will guarantee smooth, finished edges. 

You can find more information on this important subject in my book, LAURA STAMM’S POWER SKATING.