SHARPENING SKATES

We sharpen our skates after every eight hours of ice time although some players sharpen more often and some less. It depends on how hard a player is on their edges and how often they are on the ice. Outdoor and synthetic ice surfaces dull skate blades faster than indoor ice.

Run your finger width-wise (not length-wise) across the blade. You should be able to feel two distinct edges if the blade is sharp.

There are five different types of skate sharpening cuts: 1”, ¾”, 5/8”, ½” and 3/8”. The more shallow the cut the more glide the blade will have. A ¾” cut has more glide than a 3/8” cut but the latter provides more bite for tighter turning. The type of cut is individual to each player and depends on their position, weight and style of play. ½” is the standard cut and suitable for most minor hockey players as it offers a blend of glide and bite.

To save money on skate sharpening most hockey stores offer pre-paid sharpening cards which provide a volume discount.