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How to Tape Your Hockey Stick Blade
Aug 25th
What does tape do? The easiest and most effective thing you can do to prolong the life of your hockey stick blades is to tape and wax them very well. Since you naturally lose grip on the puck if your blades are wet, taping the blade of your stick prevents moisture from building up on the blade and keeps the puck from sliding off.
How to Tape a Hockey Stick Blade Decide whether you prefer to tape from toe-to-heal (more resistance) or heal-to-toe (less resistance). There’s no right or wrong way. Wind the tape around the blade, overlapping layers by about half the More >
Tomas Kaberle returns as a Maple Leaf
Aug 16th
Tomas Kaberle returns as a Maple Leaf for his 12th NHL season as the trade window closed Sunday night.
The hockey world has been holding it’s collective breath for Toronto’s decision regarding Tomas Kaberle. The Sunday night deadline came and went without official word, leaving Kaberle a Maple Leaf for the time being. The Leafs had until midnight on Sunday to trade Kaberle, at which point his no-trade clause returned.
Toronto general manager Brian Burke gave an exclusive statement via the team’s official website after the trade window closed: “The hockey club confirms this evening that Tomas Kaberle remains a Leaf. While a More >
Why Players “Bake” Their Skates
Aug 9th
Finding a pair of ice hockey skates that fit perfectly right from the store is rare indeed. Since feet are naturally different, it stands to reason that skates will fit differently from person to person. Hockey skates are made to be stiff and supportive but can be uncomfortable when they haven’t been broken in. Break-in time varies from model to model but typically takes between 6 to 10 hours of hard skating.
Skates are typically made with a memory foam that conforms to your foot over time, resulting in the “perfect” fit. This thermo-formable foam responds to heat and becomes soft More >
Marty Turco signs with the Chicago Blackhawks
Aug 2nd
Chicago Blackhawks have signed Marty Turco to a one-year/$1.3 million contract.
Negotiations between goaltender Antti Niemi and the Chicago Blackhawks have reached the end. With the Blackhawks desperate to stay under the salary cap, it was decided that Niemi’s one-year/$2.75 million contract (awarded in arbitration) was just too much for them to afford.
The focus turned to Marty Turco, who at half the cost of Niemi, seemed a sweeter deal for the team. The Blackhawks are hoping that Turco’s 22-20-11 record last season will improve with Chicago’s superior defense.
TweetFinding the Right Hockey Stick Flex For You
Jul 28th
So what is a hockey stick flex anyway? A flex is a measure of how flexible or how stiff a hockey stick is when force is applied to it. Since the flex rating indicates how many pounds of force it takes to flex the stick one inch, you should know that some sticks are significantly easier to bend than others. Finding the right flex is somewhat of a preference based on skill level. The appropriate flex varies among players, so you’ll want to try out different options.
The higher the flex, the stiffer the stick. The stiffer the stick, the more More >
NHL rejects Kovalchuk deal
Jul 26th
It’s hard to argue with the NHL’s reasoning…
With a 17-year, $102 million contract on the line, Ilya Kovalchuk has been the main topic of conversation within the hockey world. The fact that this deal with the New Jersey Devils was rejected by the NHL for salary cap circumvention only sparks more controversy and more debate. The contract was rejected because of the front loaded design. Kovalchuk stood to earn much less at the end of the contract to lower the cap hit.
At issue is whether or not Kovalchuk can play out the terms of the contract. At 27, it’s not impossible More >
Required Hockey Equipment
Jul 26th
Ice Hockey is a pretty rough sport that consists of twelve players fighting over a little 3″ puck that can be launched like a missile. Add skates and big sticks and you have the potential for injury. Playing over ice also increases the risk as ice can cause both shock and serious internal injuries.
The following specialized ice hockey equipment pieces are required for this game.
1. Ice Skates: The first thing that you must understand is that there are 2 different types of skates – those for figure skating and those for ice hockey. Player’s skates have a smooth edge from the More >