A goalie, who typically remains on the ice for an entire hockey game, needs a special skate for optimal performance. Goalie skates, to provide greater stability, include blades with bottom edges that are flatter and thicker than those found on regular hockey skates. Professional goalies must conform to strict guidelines about their skates.
History
When hockey got its start 5,000 years ago, goalies and players skated on blades constructed of animal bones. Scandinavia introduced the first skates for goalies 2,000 years ago, designing blades that attached to goalie's boots with buckles and straps. The modern game, developed in Canada, updated hockey gear to include skates made of stainless steel or other metals. By the time the first official hockey game commenced in 1877, rules about goalie skates had been established. The rules, changed over the years to reflect improvements in equipment and the ingenuity of some goalies and skating manufacturers to tweak performance, provide clear definitions about acceptable and illegal goalie skates for players in the National Hockey League.
Brands
A goalie depends on his skates more heavily than on any other piece of equipment. If you play competitively, look for skates that provide durability, comfort and stability. If you play hockey casually, you can find goalie skates starting at $60. Top-end skates can run as high as $500. During the first half of the 20th century, professional goalies and serious amateurs turned most often to Bauer, a Canadian company, for skates. Today, U.S. companies such as Reebok and Nike, which earned their reputations as running shoe manufacturers, also garner top marks for ice skates. Bauer and Tack skates remain favorites among Canadian players.
Overdrive Skate Blade
An overdrive skate blade, currently banned by the National Hockey League, was a longtime favorite of professional goalies. You may enjoy the benefits in amateur play or professional play outside of the NFL. The overdrive skate blade includes an eighth-inch protrusion that assists goalies in getting off of their knees during play, increasing their ability to catch pucks and prevent goals. Some amateur leagues follow NHL rules, however, so check your team's regulations before purchasing this enhanced goalie skate.
Considerations
If you're a parent purchasing goalie skates for your child or a teen earning money to outfit himself as a goalie, don't get overly concerned about buying the best goalie skates -- just find a comfortable pair, Jim Norwood, owner of a Play it Again Sports shop, told The Toronto Star. You can spend $7,000 on hockey equipment, including goalie skates and pads, or buy used equipment for a few hundred dollars. For most players, Norwood said, safety and comfort prove more important than a brand or style of skate. Until or unless you attain top levels of competition, you will skate equally well in an inexpensive skate as you would in a top-of-the line Bauer or Tack skate, Norwood says. Spend time trying on skates, though, to prevent injuries from ill-fitting skates.
References
- "The Washington Times"; The Man Behind the Mask; Top goalies have mix of focus, confidence; Dave Mackall; April 18 1993
- StickShack.com: History of Hockey Equipment
- Library and Archives Canada: History of Hockey
- ProHockeyStuff.com: Hockey Skate Brands: The Best of the Best
- "The Globe and Mail"; Dryden Backs Ban on Goalie Device;Drew Edwards; August 9 2001
- "The Toronto Star"; It's Time to Gear Up for Hockey; Lois Kalchman; Sept. 17 1995
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