Hockey Goalie Skates

By necessity, there is a difference between hockey goalie skates and player skates. This is because the hockey goalie needs extra protection from the puck. As with players' skates, goalie skates were originally just leather boots bolted to metal blades. However, from the beginning, goalie skate boots have also been fitted with a hardened toe cap. The blade on a goalie's skate is also longer, wider, and flatter to increase stability. Goalie skate blades are made from carbon steel, rather than stainless steel. Goalie skates often remove the cowling, both to make the skates wider and also to protect other players out on the ice.

Hockey goalie skate sizing works on a slightly different basis than regular shoe sizing. Your goalie skate size should be roughly 1.5 sizes smaller than your street shoe size. So, for example, if you wear a men's 8 sneaker, your hockey goalie skate size will most likely be 6.5. Always consult a manufacturer's sizing chart to double check.

Goalie skates are longer and thicker than hockey skates, giving you more surface area for pushing off as you slide side to side. Additionally, goalie blades are made of thicker steel than player skate blades in order to withstand the impact of pucks.

Yes, goalie skates are different than those used by skaters. Since goalies don't need to move quickly and cut side-to-side or backwards like forwards or defensemen, they don't need a deep curve from toe to heel. As a result, goalie blades are flat and straight, allowing for more lateral, side-to-side sliding movement.

Yes, goalie skates are wider than normal skates. Unlike normal skates, the heels of goalie skates are longer as there is much more boot support behind those posts or eyelets in front of the skate.

Goalies scrape the ice to increase its roughness making it harder for the puck to slide.

Yes, goalies need to be good skaters. Stick handling and being able to move laterally are the most important skills for a goaltender. Being able to skate well is crucial for goalies as the position requires strength, balance, and agility on skates.