Goalie Skate Sharpening Techniques

Goalie Skate Sharpening

As most goalies are butterfly goalies, they are sharpening their skates with deeper hollows than in the past. Most goalies now sharpen their skates with a 5/8", 1/2", or sometimes even a 3/8" hollow. Younger goalies should use a flatter hollow: either 3/4" or 1".

Butterfly goaltending demands a lot of bite for lateral movement, and while it does place extra demands on your legs while shuffling, the ability to sustain a greater angle of attack from skate to ice pays huge dividends when it comes to your butterfly slide, down-pushing, and backside recoveries. It always boils down to personal preference - go with what you're comfortable with.


Here's a closer look at some of the tools used to sharpen Goalie skates.