Goalie Skate Fitting Guide

Goalie skates are designed differently than player skates to provide a proper fit with the leg pads.

• Protective cowling around boot provides additional protection for the toes, heel, and inside of the foot.  The cowling also attaches the skate blade to the skate
• Wider blade (from inside to outside edge) to prevent cracking when impacted by the goal posts or the puck.
• Longer blade (from heel to toe) with a longer blade radius.  The longer radius keeps more of the blade on the ice as compared to a player skate.
• Goalie skate boots do not have an extended Achilles tendon guard on the back of the heel and calf.  This allows for a greater range of motion for the goalie's ankle. 

Sizing and Fitting Goalie Skates

Goalie skates and player skates are sized in the same way. Typically, you want a skate that is 1 to 1 ½ size smaller than your shoe size. For children, it is acceptable to order a half size bigger to accommodate growing feet; however, any larger will cause blisters to form and will break down the sides of the boot. Also, too large of a skate will also affect a players mobility and balance.

When trying on a skate, wear socks similar to ones that you will wear while playing. After putting on the skate, press your foot forward as far as possible so that your toes press against the front of the skate. When in this position, you should be able to place one finger between the inside of the boot and the heel of your foot.

After that, sit down and kick your heel firmly into the back of the boot. Firmly tighten the laces through the first 2-3 eyelets until the skate is snug near the toe. Remember to keep your foot placed flat on the ground while lacing the skate.

After lacing up the skate, make sure you walk around to test the comfort level of the skate. Remember, it takes a few wears to break them in; the more you wear your skates, the faster the skate will mold to your foot. It is also important to have your blades sharpened regularly—about every 6-8 hours of practice or game time is ideal.

A few important considerations to remember when fitting a skate:

• Does your heel move? There should not be any movement or lifting with your heel. If your heel does move, it will take away from your performance.
• The skate should be very snug for proper support to enable a good push-off without any movement.
• It takes a few wears to break in a new pair of skates. Heat-fitting is an option that helps expedite the break-in process.

Heat Fitting is a process in which skates are baked in a special oven to achieve a more perfect fit. This process helps round out the stiff sides and upper part of the boot, conforming to the shape of the goalie’s foot. Heat fitting shortens the break-in period by about half the time.