There are significant differences between the skates of a goalie and a non-goalie. A goaltender is not required to skate in a manner similar to forwards and defensemen, so the skates have a different look and feel to them. The skate blades are longer and flatter, giving the goaltender the ability to slide around the crease and cover the net with quickness and mobility. The blades are made of carbon steel instead of the stainless steel used by most skaters. The blade itself is also quite a bit shorter top to bottom than a normal hockey skate to help keep low shots from getting through him and into the net. The goalie also has to use his skates to block shots on a regular basis. Since many of the shots can approach 100 mph or more, that means these skates have to absorb the velocity and prevent injury. This is done with a cowling, which is built outside the boot of the skate.
What to Look for
Comfort is the top factor a goaltender must have in his skates, followed closely by protection. In addition to being lower to the ice and having longer blades, the skates are also cut lower around the ankle to give the goalie greater ease of movement when he has to slide from one side of the crease to the other and then make a quick kick save. The combination of the goalie skate and the cowling can be fairly heavy and burdensome, causing excessive perspiration, and goalie skates should come with an internal air net that wicks that moisture away from the foot. This factor often comes into play late in the game when fatigue is likely to set in. A goalie who does not have to deal with a heavy boot caused by excess sweating will be in a much better position to succeed.
Common Pitfalls
A goalie's comfort is one of the key factors in being able to play a complete game, but it is not the only factor and it can camouflage other issues. This is particularly true of a goalie's skates. The natural inclination of a goaltender is to choose a bigger skate than he needs for comfort and to allow him to get that extra inch when kicking out of shot. However, a foot that slides around in the skate or that is not snug enough around the ankles will cause a goaltender to lose the control he needs in order to play. The cowling around the edge of the skates must also be checked frequently. The cowling is designed to withstand hard shots on a frequent basis, but cracks can still result and it must be replaced as soon as possible once that happens.
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