TRAIKOS: Marsblade revolution creating buzz among NHLers as a potential game-changer (2024)

FAQs

Do NHL players use Marsblade? ›

The Marsblade I2 Skate Holder increases its presence in all major hockey leagues.

-The Marsblade Chassis are designed to be mounted on ice- and roller hockey skate boots.

Most skates are sharpened by cutting an arc in between the two edges, known as the radius of hollow (ROH). This is measured in inches. Hockey player and goalie skates are often sharpened with a ROH from 3/8” up to 1-1/2”.

I don't really like to change things up, equipment-wise. I have always stuck with that and learned how to use it.” The straight blade is not common in the NHL because many players, constantly searching for any possible advantage, bend their blades outward from the heel to the toe in order to enhance shooting accuracy.

The rocker technology makes it feel like skating on ice. it's nice to be able to transition between your Marsblade skates and your ice hockey skates and have that similar feeling.

What Sharpening Radius Do Nhl Players Use? There is no definitive answer to this question as each player has their own preference. However, most NHL players typically use a sharpening radius between 1/2 and 3/4 inch. This allows them to get a good edge on the ice while still being able to control the puck well.

Connor McDavid Stick Spec Check

McDavid's custom curve is a variation on the popular P92 pattern, with a smaller, slightly squared blade face. He has been using the curve since he was a young, and for the most part has stuck with it throughout his pro career (with some brief experimentation here and there).

Also, he has a lot of strength in his legs, and it is clear from the way that he skates. When crossing over or taking strides, the 20-year-old is able to fully extend his foot off each skate, and can also dig into the ice and push harder as he goes forward.

The hard plastic guards are mainly used for figure skaters and protect the blade while the skater walks from the dressing room to the ice surface. Hockey players only need these if they walk a lot in their skates.

Do NHL players use heated skate blades? ›

Four NHL players are skating on heated blades said to enhance performance. Heated skate blades that are supposed to enhance performance are being used by four anonymous NHL players.

Heat and Bake

One of the most popular in-store adjustments involves using heat. If they prefer not to do it at the store, some people use a hair dryer, which can be applied to the boot of the skate for 2-3 minutes before trying the skate on to mold it to their foot.

A moderate curve depth (1/2”) is the most popular and will help improve puck control, improve the ability to lift the puck easier (compared to slight), all while still having a good backhand. A deep curve depth will provide the most control thanks to the blade being able to really cup the puck.

Forwards tend to use a lower flex. Some players with a notable low flex are Johnny Gaudreau with a 55 flex and Phil Kessel with a 65 flex. You can see just how much bend these players get out of their stick when they shoot.

Other superstar forwards like Patrick Kane, Pavel Datsyuk and Wayne Gretzky have also used mild curves throughout their careers... none of which had any trouble scoring.

A quick test for a sharp edge is to hold the skate upside down, place one thumbnail on the edge of the blade and gently pull down and away from the blade on three or four parts of the blade. A good, sharp blade will easily scrape a layer of your thumbnail, leaving the remnants on the blade.

The general consensus is that ice skates aren't sharp enough to cut your fingers off, and you can gently run your fingers along the blade without any worry. But when moving at high speeds, they can certainly cause pretty big cuts, so it's still important to be careful.

According to geargeek.com he was last seen using the CCM Ribcor Reckoner Stick, this is the next generation of the CCM Ribcor Trigger, The The CCM Reckoner Grip Hockey Stick is optimized in both Shaft and Blade of the stick.

In the NHL, players will have freshly sharpened skates for every game, but not in between periods.

As a general rule, the length of a hockey stick should be from the ice – to between the sternum/above the armpits and below the chin of the player.

What Flex is Connor McDavid's stick? ›

Some of the biggest names in professional hockey are now taking advantage of Flare skate blade technology. Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers), and Jacob Trouba (New York Rangers) are a few worth mentioning.

There are several different types of hollows to choose from, but pro shops will commonly use 1/2” as their “standard” cut. The 1/2” hollow offers a respectable mix of glide and control for most players but adjusting the depth of the hollow can offer several benefits when done correctly.

Another of his strengths was his fast and nimble skating, which helped him avoid contact and beat defenders. The videos clearly showcased some of his raw speed. His time of 7.24 seconds for 60m in 1982 would have been faster than the men's 60m national records of Mexico, New Zealand and Kenya.

Zdeno Chara has the record of the hardest shot in the NHL competition when he reached 108.8 mph in 2012. Chara at the time was a member of the Boston Bruins.

Purpose. Hockey Tape: Hockey tape is primarily used in ice hockey and other similar sports to wrap around hockey sticks. It provides players with a better grip on the stick and helps enhance puck control.

A hat trick happens when a single player scores three goals in one game. Fans celebrate such an accomplishment by tossing their hats onto the ice.

The higher the number, the flatter the cut. Players used to regularly ask for a 3/8ths or half-inch cut (pointy, high); now it's commonplace for them to use a much shallower hollow. Montreal's Jesperi Kotkaniemi skates on 11/16ths. NHL refs, for whom glide is paramount, typically sharpen at around an inch.

Ovechkin first began wearing yellow because he liked their look. “His standard answer about them was always that he thought they looked cool,” former Caps PR rep Nate Ewell said to me years ago. “The yellow laces are also waxed, though, so some players like them because they stay in place better.

I wasn't a great skater and I needed my skates to be perfect—really tight around the ankles. But I couldn't break in new ones because my feet would hurt so much. I wore a size 9 shoe and a 6.5 skate—my foot was really crunched.

Is Ovechkin a fast skater? ›

Ovechkin is a big (6-feet-2, 234 lbs.), speedy skater who accelerates quickly, so all that force adds to the velocity of the puck when he shoots.

After taping their stick, some players add a coat of wax or mink oil to the taped stick. If you are playing on natural ice, the wax layer can protect against snow or ice buildup. It can also allow for a little more friction between blade and puck, helping the player to control the puck better.

This is a very personal call. Some players will sharpen very frequently, such as every 2-3 hours of ice time, while others go for an entire season without sharpening. If you're unsure of where to start, try getting them sharpened after 10 hours of ice time, and then adjust as you feel is necessary.

How Fast Do Hockey Players Skate? The average hockey player's speed is around 10-25 mph. However, some players can skate as fast as 30-35 mph. The world record for the fastest skating speed is held by Connor McDavid, who reached a speed of 40.9 mph during a game.

You can also break in a new pair of skates by wearing them around the house or having the skate shop punch out the leather in areas that rub your feet or ankles.

Four NHL players are skating on heated blades said to enhance performance. Heated skate blades that are supposed to enhance performance are being used by four anonymous NHL players.

What Sharpening Do Nhl Players Use? Skates are sharpened using arcs in between the two edges of the blades, known as the radius of hollow (ROH). This is measured by the length of the sentence. For hockey player and goalie skates, a ROH should be sharpened from 3/8″ to 1-1/2″.

With that all said, the majority of NHL players use a stick with flex in the 85-100 range. Forwards tend to use a lower flex. Some players with a notable low flex are Johnny Gaudreau with a 55 flex and Phil Kessel with a 65 flex. You can see just how much bend these players get out of their stick when they shoot.

A moderate curve depth (1/2”) is the most popular and will help improve puck control, improve the ability to lift the puck easier (compared to slight), all while still having a good backhand. A deep curve depth will provide the most control thanks to the blade being able to really cup the puck.

“You're sweating a lot,” said Chris Wagner. “I drink three bottles of water like, the last hour and a half before a game, then we have BioSteel, and I'll usually have a Gatorade for extra electrolytes after the second (period). On the bench, I take a sip after every shift, but don't really notice it.”

Why do NHL players use iPads on bench? ›

For example, when the Penguins score a goal, he presses a button and the play rolls back a certain number of seconds and forward a certain number of seconds. Since the iPads are tied into the program Saucier is using, that will be displayed on the tablet on the bench as a ticker mark in the timeline.

DOES CUTTING DOWN A STICK OR ADDING AN EXTENSION CHANGE THE FLEX? The simple answer is yes, a shorter stick will feel stiffer and will perform more similarly to a stick with a higher flex number. A longer stick will feel softer and will perform more like a stick with a lower flex number.

However, hockey is a game of preference so, just because you weigh 170 does not mean that you must use an 85 flex. You may find that the 85 is too stiff for you, and there is nothing wrong with using a 75 flex stick. The same goes if you think the 85 flex has too much flex and need something stiffer.

By 1967, the NHL began to limit the amount of curve a stick blade could legally have. In the NHL today, the legal limit is 19 mm, or 3⁄4 of an inch. Much like the shaft's flex, a blade's shape is a very important characteristic of a stick's performance.

Defensem*n prefer a mid-curve or heel curve which provides greater control for handling the puck and improves accuracy for heavy shooting (slap shots and clear outs) Players who pass more than shoot often prefer a heel curve which enhances their ability to stick handle and make saucer passes (passing through the air)

You can learn a lot about a player by simply picking up a twig and paying attention. NHL sticks also have a short lifespan. Some players use a new one each game, and teams will typically go through 3,000 to 4,000 sticks in an 82-game season depending on the individual users.