Skate Brands

Skates have been around for over a century. Their form and manufacturing process has changed radically over the years. Until 1901, the ice blade attached directly to the boot. The “Tube skate” from the early 1900s, had a blade welded into a steel tube. The steel tube had supports riveted into each heel. This provided better balance and allowed for quicker and easier turns. The Winnipeg Victorias introduced it at the 1901 Stanley Cup games.

Originally, there was no branding. This was to come with CCM, George Tackaberry and Bauer. In 1905, Tackaberry invented a more comfortable boot for Joe Hall, a future Montreal Canadien and NHL Hall-of-Famer. The “Tack” ice skate appeared at the same time CCM began to manufacture ice skates. On Tackaberry’s death in 1937, the two merged, making CCM the most popular and recognized name in professional ice hockey.

The new company was not without competition. In 1933, hockey legend, Eddie Bauer, with the help of the Starr Manufacturing Company, produced skates with blades permanently attached to the boots. Bauer skates became popular. They also changed the manufacturing process and branding of skates.

After the war, skate technology made it easier to create lighter, faster, skates. Synthetic leather made skates more water resistant and easier to break in. Kevlar and graphite kept them light, stiff and durable. Plastic holders replaced metal runners with and the skate blades began to vary noticeably in contour. In 1978, a new development by a Finnish company produced the “Tuuk” skate. Plastic moldings made the skate lighter, stylish and easier to replace. A safety edge reinforced the back of the blade and the material made the skate more durable.

Different brands of hockey skates began to compete seriously for the market. CCM remained a staple. Bauer still held a strong market share, but other companies were emerging, including Ferland, Flite, Koho, Mission, Nike, Rebellion, and Tour.

Mergers have also affected branding. Mission and Itech amalgamated as did Nike and Bauer. The Hockey Company of Montreal boasts CCM, Koho and Jofa as subsidiaries, but under the Reebok name. This makes buying skates a challenge. Do you go by the company and its reputation, the manufacturer and its reputation or by the product? Many NHLers show loyalty to a particular brand.

Some skaters stick to one brand. Itech and Mission skates are products of the same company, but the brands are not identical. Sizing differs as does other characteristics, including price, material and specific types. Some brands focus on lower end markets, others cater to the high end; some design with the average person in mind, others are geared towards professionals. Whatever your preference or level, you should be able to find the right kind of skate for you.