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Will heated blades revolutionize hockey?

BEVERLEY SMITH

With a report from The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 7:23 PM EDT 22/10/07

Hot stuff: New skates that allow players to glide faster could give teams the edge they need ...Read the full article

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  1. Henry Allen from Toronto, Canada writes: News Flash: NHL brass is taking steps to force Leafs' defence to go back to unheated skates. The tendency for Leafs' defence to stand around is causing heated blades to melt into ice right up to boot soles. In several cases, Leafs' defence had to unlace and run to the bench in stocking feet. NHL officials say these implanted skates are a hazard to the 29 faster teams.
  2. Alf Fartigan from Canada writes: Being one who maintains the ice at our local arena, I'm wondering what effect these blades will have on the ice surface, if any?
  3. harvey jingley from United States writes: Aren't today's players big and fast enough?

    I can only imagine players will get hurt by this.

    In addition, speed skaters will probably be able to cheat by rigging them to a degree or two (maybe literally :-) )

    Figure skaters don´t need 'em...

    I don't quite get it...but maybe that's just me.
  4. Slander Us from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree Alf - a lot of NHL rinks have problems with the quality of the ice ... I can't see how heated blades will help that, and I think they'll probably create more problems in terms of ice quality.
  5. Patrick Smith from Markham, Canada writes: I agree; help us all if we have another Final in the South; come June it's predictably hot and humid; the ice is mush to begin with.

    I'm not an expert on ice, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see bigger, deeper ruts in the ice as a result, which could create dangerous conditions.
  6. Mike H from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada writes: Slander Us from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree Alf - a lot of NHL rinks have problems with the quality of the ice ... I can't see how heated blades will help that, and I think they'll probably create more problems in terms of ice quality."

    A couple of guys I referee hockey with are wearing prototypes of those skates. They don't get hot enough that there is any negative impact on the ice. None that I could see at any rate. Who knows, it might make a difference with 10 skaters wearing them all on the ice at the same time. I doubt it though. The blades don't actually get that warm.

    Both of the guys said they do find it easier to skate with them on though.
  7. Henry Allen from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree with comments about problems with soft, slushy ice. It makes a lot more sense to work on ways to keep ice consistently cold and hard across the NHL. For example, especially in soft ice arenas I've wondered if anyone ever tried installing a series of fans at the top of boards behind heavy screens around the ice blowing cold, dry air about 45 degrees down onto the ice. In other words, provide dry air conditioning at ice level. Above the ice have fans that suck the air from the ice area into dehumidifiers. If done right, players also stay cool while spectators won't notice much difference.
  8. Bruce rebel from Ottawa, Canada writes: The physics of heated blades has been known since the time a blade was first strapped onto a boot. In fact many sports that share the same physics as hockey blades (Speed Skating, Bobsled, Luge, and Skeleton) have prohibited the use of heated blades to gain a performance advantage over your competitors.

    My biggest concern with these new skates is not for the pros but for your everyday amateur kid playing hockey. It you want to continue to compete on a level playing field everybody will have to buy juiced up skates. It's just like the composite sticks everybody is using these days, it all puts upward financial pressure on families to keep up with the Jones. These skates are of course sold at a premium price.

    The real question then becomes does Hockey really need heated blades?

    Sorry Mr. Weber but my vote would be to follow the lead of the other sports and prohibit the use of heated blades in Hockey.
  9. Tom Henderson from Canada writes: would the game be better with heated blades?

    That is the only real question.

    Is faster better?

    If everyone in hte pros is wearing heated blades the entire game gets faster.

    Faster skates gives an advantage to the forwards and might reult in more offense for teams that are quick.

    Ottawa should order 50 sets today as should buffalo.
  10. dale spinx from Canada writes: $399 a pair? dads across canada wince in unison.
  11. Patrick Smith from Markham, Canada writes: $400 skates, $200 sticks...parents you have my deepest sympathies.

    Tom- you could put jet engines on the skates of a few Leafs' defencemen and it wouldn't help!

    Again; my only concern would be creating ruts in the ice; saw a guy in my beer league catch one last week; poor guy blew his knee out.
  12. Mike H from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada writes: Patrick Smith from Markham, Canada writes: Again; my only concern would be creating ruts in the ice; saw a guy in my beer league catch one last week; poor guy blew his knee out. "

    Hey Patrick. I've seen a couple of guys wear them. They don't cut into the ice anymore than a normal pair of skate do. IE) They don't create any bigger ruts.

    They're not so hot that they melt through the ice as you skate. They just warm up the blade enough so that there is less friction when you move.
  13. Alf Fartigan from Canada writes: Good to hear that these blades shouldn't do more damage to the ice surface than regular blades. I've seen some pretty deep ruts with a regular blade, and feel for the guy that blew his knee out. Tough game this hockey. I know that the average temperature in our arena is about 48 degrees presently, and it can be quite difficult to keep the ice really hard at that temp. I can only imagine how hard the compressors must be working in an NHL venue where the inside building temperature is around 72 degrees. As far as putting 'fans' close to the ice surface, last week our ice was starting to fog on a warmish day, and I put all the ceiling fans on full to try to get rid of the fog. The ice developed a weird film on it which totally blew me away. Thank God my boss was away for a lengthy meeting. I shut them off and the film disappeared in about an hour and a half. None the worse for wear. At any rate, if these new blades only heat up slightly, make skating easier, make you go faster, and don't hack the ice up ....... hey, go for it. I'm all for faster hockey. And I think the "new hockey" in the NHL is awesome. Don't know how we watched all that clutching, grabbing and hooking for so long. More penalties, but, it makes the game that much more exciting to see all the open ice. Absolutely love it. This is how the game should be played. Now if we can just get these skates for ALL the Leafs ........ nah, don't think it'll make much difference. Remember when the Blue Jays went out and "purchased" a team in 1991-1992? Geez ...... back to back World Series. Go figure. Take note MLSE.
  14. D S from Toronto, Canada writes: I have to say I don't like this idea. I feel that is will create and unleveled playing field where one must have heated blades to keep up, and at the prices they are quoting it will be unobtainable for a lot of players. Also, How would we monitor these blades? Does a higher temp create less friction (7 degrees better than 5)? Will they have to measure the temperature of a players skate like they check the curve of their stick? Maybe there are easy solutions to these problems, but for now I am not a supporter

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