These differences are why it is essential for goalies to wear goalie skates, and players to wear regular ice hockey skates. The differences have to do with the boot of the skate, the skate blade, and protective material on the skates.
On goalie skates, the boot comes lower on the ankle. This means that goalie skates have a shorter tongue on the front of the skate and less tendon protection for the back of the ankle. On player skates, the tongue is quite long, as is the tendon protector on the back of the ankle. The shin pad will typically even fit beneath the long tongue of the skate.
Goalie skates use the shorter tongue and tendon protector for performance reasons. This is because goalies need ankle mobility, which would be severely restricted by regular player skates — which comes several inches higher up the ankle. Goalies frequently push off quickly with their ankles to go side-to-side in the crease.
They also do so from the butterfly position down on their knees , which requires flexibility from the ankles at extreme angles. Goalie pads serve as protection for the front of the ankle and shin, coming down right over the top of the skate boot. Players are also more in danger of getting skate blade cuts on the backs of their calves. The longer tendon piece on the back of player skates is designed to protect from such injuries — which are very dangerous when they do occur.
Goalie skates have additional plastic protection on the toe of the skate, the sides, and the back heel. Toe protection is especially important for goalie skates. Goalies need the additional protection because they face down pucks from players with their feet directed at the shot.
Goalies need confidence in their skates to put their feet in front of the shots. The puck can hit directly off the toe of the goalie skate, so the skate needs this extra, guaranteed protection.
This extra protection is also present on the heel of goalie skates and more thinly along the lowest edge portion of the boot. Player skates are also made for optimal protection of the foot. Defensemen and forwards often have protection on their boots, too, but it is more flexible than what is provided for a goaltender. It is not common to see player skates with same hard plastic shells that goalie skates have.
The blades affect the way that the hockey player skates and since goalies do not need to move up and down the ice like a position player, they do not need the short blades. Therefore, goalie blades are thick and long to give the goalie more power for side-to-side movement. The increased surface area gives goalies the force they need to move short distances quickly. These longer blades also give more stability to the player and to the skate. Imagine the force of a puck hitting skate blades. You want to have a strong blade to take the impact and properly deflect the puck, too.
Goalie skates are designed for quick movements, but not quick turns like players need on the ice. Because goalies have to move from side to side, they have flat blades. Player skate blades have a curve so they can move in all directions.
But, goalie skate blades are designed with the idea that goalies have to move in all directions at any time, unlike players who usually move in one direction for a longer period of time. Because goalies move from side of side, their blades wear down faster than player skates. It is important that they are sharpened regularly to keep the blade ready to grip the ice for those side-to-side movements. It is also important to take care of them to smooth the flaws that come from hitting the posts and from the screaming pucks that hit them, too.
There are two different main styles of goaltending and the way their skates are sharpened matters. The butterfly goalie has an up-and-down style of play that involves using the legs and knees to stop the puck. Additional Information Home 2 Sticks Giveaway! Site Information. Never buy retail again Learn Why. Please wait Call us at Goalie Skates Select sub-category. Home Skates Goalie Skates.
Pro Stock Ice Hockey Goalie Skates Just like goalie pads and sticks differ from defensemen and forwards, goalie skates are designed to give goalies a specific range of movement along with unrivaled protection. Because NHL goalies play in the most demanding conditions possible, manufacturers never take shortcuts of any kind in the design, materials, and manufacturing process of these skates. Pro Stock Hockey works directly with NHL teams to acquire our goalie skates, so authenticity is never a question.
Most of our skates have been completely customized to meet the specific needs of NHL goalies and the teams they play for.
This gives you the option of finding a design that is simply not available through the usual retail channels.
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