Ice skating has existed for multiple centuries and the ice hockey skate continues to evolve to this day. Skates have been used by hockey players, figure skaters and speed skaters over the years. Although all these sports use ice skates, hockey-specific skates began development in the 19th century. Ice hockey skates now come in different models made by several different companies. Each year, major manufacturers of ice hockey skates make new innovations to ice hockey skates in an attempt to make them lighter and more comfortable.
Background
The oldest pair of ice skates in human history were found in a lake in Switzerland that date back to about 3,000 B.C. Several centuries later in the 1200s, skates were developed with an iron blade for the first time in the Netherlands. Before 1250, the blades were made out of honed animal bone. The Dutch also created the iron blade with double edges. This 16th century innovation helped the skater to move forward on his skates without using poles. Two centuries later, skating became quite popular in Scotland and immigrants brought the sport with them to the U.S.
Further Evolution
The middle of the 19th century saw Philadelphia native E.V. Bushnell invent a steel clamp that could attach the blade to the boot. Nearly two decades later, Starr, a company in Nova Scotia, Canada, designed the first pair of skates made just for ice hockey. The blade was made with an aluminum finish and was attached to the boot using rivets. The boots had a felt tongue and hard toes. In the 1920s, Starr joined with another hockey equipment company, Bauer, to make hockey skates. This new model became famous for being the first skate in history with a directly connected blade and boot. In the 1930s, CCM, another Canadian company, came onto the scene and made their own boot and blade. Every NHL scoring champion from 1939 to 1969 wore CCM skates.
Skates in Present
Today there are more than a half-dozen manufacturers of ice hockey skates. Skates can now be heated by sellers in special ovens to help mold the skate to the shape of your foot. Current skates feature a tongue, a toe cap, the blade, a holder and a heel. The holder is often made of plastic and holds the blade. It is attached to boot with rivets.
Considerations
If you wish to have your skates heated before purchase, have a reputable hockey equipment retailer perform this. Also, the different skate manufacturers size and fit their skates differently from one another. Always try on skates before buying them. Make sure you think about comfort first and think about the weight of the skate only if it is comfortable.
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