I’m not sure how I feel about this: Four NHL players are skating on heated blades said to enhance performance

Heated skate blades that are supposed to enhance performance are being used by four anonymous NHL players.

I had read about these a month or two ago, then forgot about them. I’m a little surprised that they’re being used in regular NHL games.

Thermablades use a rechargeable battery and microprocessor to maintain a blade temperature of 5 C. The slight heat is enough to increase the thickness of the water layer between the blade and the ice surface, and the company says its tests have shown this reduces gliding friction and starting resistance for skaters.

Increasing players’ speed seems to be a good idea. Faster players should generate more scoring chances, making a more exciting game assuming the speed increase is significant. However, there is that pesky equation:

Ek = 1/2 mv2
Kinetic energy increases with the square of the velocity. In other words, twice the velocity yields four times the kinetic energy.  In English: a faster skater hits a whole lot harder than a slower one.

Will the heated skate blades result in an increase in player injuries?I also wonder if two teams all skating with heated blades will ruin the already crappy ice found in many arenas? Will an infusion of heated blades cause more degradation that player’s injuries increase due to ice degradation?

Just two of what I’m sure are several questions that need to be answered before heated blades come in to the league.

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