The purpose of the study was to investigate the relative contribution of skate blade
properties to on-ice skating speed. Thirty-two male ice hockey players (mean age =
19±2.65 yrs.) representing the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA; Midget AAA
and Junior), Canadian Inter University Sport (CIS: Varsity), Ontario hockey league
(OHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), and the playing positions of forwards
(n=18) and defense (n=14) were recruited to participate. Skate related equipment worn by
the players for the purpose of the research was documented and revealed that 80% of the
players wore Bauer skates, Tuuk blade holders and LS2 skate blades. Subjects completed
a battery of eight on-ice skating drills used to measure and compare two aspects of
skating speed; acceleration [T1(s)] and total time to complete each drill [TT(s)] while
skating on three skate blade conditions. The drills represented skills used in the game of
hockey, both in isolation (e.g., forward skating, backward skating, stops and starts, and
cornering) and in sequence to simulate the combination of skills used in a shift of game
play. The three blade conditions consisted of (i) baseline, represented by the blades worn
by the player throughout their current season of play; (ii) experimental blades (EB),
represented by brand name experimental blades with manufacturers radius of contour and
a standardized radius of hollow; and (iii) customized experimental blades (CEB),
represented by the same brand name experimental blades sharpened to the players’
preference as identified in the baseline condition. No significant differences were found
in acceleration time [T1(s)] or total time to complete [TT(s)] the isolated drills across
blade conditions; however significant differences were revealed in both T1(s) and TT(s)
measured during the execution of the sequenced drill across blade conditions. A
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Bonferroni post hoc test revealed that players skated significantly faster when skating on
the CEB condition compared to the baseline condition (p≤.05). A questionnaire assessing
subjects perceived comfort, confidence and effort expended while skating on the
experimental blades revealed that players were significantly more comfortable when
skating on the CEB versus the EB condition (p≤.05). Outcomes of the study provide
evidence to suggest that the experimental skate blades customized with the players
preferred blade sharpening characteristics results in faster skating speed in a combination
drill representing skills performed in gameplay