Enough is Enough?
I’ve recently come across a story from the canadian press that is suggesting four anonymous players, anonymous due to keep media attetion away an not be a distraction to the players, are using battery heated/wamred skates. Basically it’s a device in the skates that heat up the blades a little I believe the article said, 5 degree C. This little heat melts the ice a little, therefore making the water layer between the skate blade an actual ice a little more slick which has been shown in the test conducted by the maker’s, Verdun, Que., Company Therma Blade Inc. Of coarse the advantage is a reduction in Glide friction making players move faster… but players also will seem faster with the skates at the start being as it also reduces starting resistance for skaters.
The article doesn’t mention any set backs or quarks about the skates. Which is expected but this device sounds like it might actually be harder to stop on a dime. Stopping as much as going is just as important an just as common in a game. If players a not stopping fast enough or even slidding this is seriously hurt goalies, all by mistake…
This sounds good an all but do we really need to computerize our equimpent? Honestly can’t hockey stay some what primal human in nature. Hockey is one of the few remaining sports that honestly hasn’t had a huge durastic change in. LOL SYKE… Let’s keep what we have from the old days. I don’t mind Helmet visor’s… Those can save career’s/ face’s. I don’t mind smaller pads on Goalies… But giving the players an extra advantage in there skating ability wouldn’t be right to me, only because it’s electronic an not machanically performed by human muscle.
Not only don’t I like this idea b/c I feel it’s a moral slap in the face to natural competition. Ever think about what the cost’s will be. For every player to get this skate? I’m sure it’ll be issued in as a, optional, basis for players but what player doesn’t want an extra edge on they’re opponent’s? Sure they’ll be a few hard nosed players but lets say half a team has these skates. idk lets say 10 pairs of new skates needed, which are paid for by either the organization or maybe the players. Assuming the team applies the skates as they do most equimpent, if needed, they’ll also need maybe extra batteries/battery packs, Charges, money to charge them things, time spent caring for skates that normally shouldn’t even matter. Also I know they’ll be throughly tested but I can see battery packs, busting, breaking, causing a player harm? Or just simply spreading debree on the ice that shouldn’t be worried about.
This is just my take on this situation as a fan an I wanted to know what other fans around the league thought.
Here’s the article… http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/284844
Redwing fan till the end by the way!!!