Everyone knows that skate blades are made of steel. What most people don't know is that the surface of the blade is not flat, but concave. A process called hollow-grinding carves out the center steel in a blade and produces two sharp edges. These edges give players the ability to dig into the ice--to stop, start, or change direction. It's recommended that the skates should fit properly. The plain, white cloth laces should be used because unlike the leather laces which tend to tighten up when wet can cut off circulation. You can keep good care of your skates if you wipe them clean after each game with a rag. It's not advisable to dry them over a hot radiator, normal room temperature is fine. The blades should be kept sharp at all time. In normal circumstance, a pair of skates is good for 4 to 6 hours of use before a sharpening. (In the NHL, most players skates are sharpend before each game and during intermisssion.)

Jack Adams
Jack Adams is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Read more about him in the Hall of Fame section under History.

Hockey Gloves
Hockey Gloves are used to protect the wrists and hands. Read about them in the Protective section under Equipment.

Origins of Hockey
Read about the origins of hockey under history.