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It may not seem like it to some, but the game of hockey has changed a whole lot in the last 10-15 years. Equipment like shoulder and shin pads got bigger, yet lighter at the same time. One-piece sticks of graphite materials felt flimsy at first touch, but then only helped turn an average slap shot into a bullet (unless, of course, it exploded on a slap shot attempt on a key play of a game).

Goalies of the old days who had to contend with pads filled with deer hair that became heavy when wet, can now see how much easier it is for the Roberto Luongo’s of our time to flop around with equipment that is clearly bigger and lighter.

Now there are helmets with special padding meant to limit concussions among players at all levels. Even visors have evolved to the point where there are different curvatures and shades for all tastes. And those much-hyped new RBK jerseys worn in the NHL are supposed to raise the comfort level of players by helping them move faster.

There may not be an electronic component to all this, but let it be known that technology has been the tie that binds all these advancements together. Technology is also what makes it easier to test this kind of stuff before players even consider trying them out. It’s all trial and error, and it seems that this new attitude towards the equipment — along with player conditioning — has changed the way hockey is played at the highest level in the NHL.

Until the Thermablade, skates never had a truly revolutionary added component over the last 20 years. Sure, there were tweaks that may have helped form a skate to a player’s foot faster. Except that’s hardly surprising considering NHL players can get just about anything they want custom made.

The Thermablade was the brainchild of Tory Weber from Calgary who spent $5 million over five years to market the product. The company is now based in Quebec and managed to get the backing of Wayne Gretzky, who seemed to have no qualms in declaring that the blades would “revolutionize the game of hockey”.

Five NHL players (Martin Lapointe, Marty Reasoner, Kris Draper, Mark Bell and Matthew Lombardi) tried out the Thermblade with only Reasoner being satisfied. All the others were either lukewarm or just outright didn’t like them.

Whether or not these players were the right candidates to try them or if they gave them enough of a chance is hard to say. It is probably safe to say that players get so accustomed to their equipment that they can notice the slightest changes when putting on something new. This probably explains why Ottawa’s Jason Spezza went back to using wooden sticks.

The technology behind the Thermablade is interesting, at least. There’s a battery and electronics integrated into the heel of the blade holder that heat the blade to about 5-degrees Celsius. The heated blade is supposed to lessen the friction between the blade and the ice, which would ideally give the player better traction to make sharper turns and accelerate faster.

The idea is pretty sound, but perhaps also a little misguided. Helping players of all levels skate better is definitely a good thing, but to have them go faster and faster might be dangerous. Watch an NHL game and you’ll see how fast these guys move (even more so in person). It’s entirely possible that an increase in speed could actually diminish the level of skill involved in stickhandling, passing and positional play.

Tennis, as an example, is arguably less entertaining now than it was 15 years ago because graphite racquets have given the onus to power over precision. It’s not about how good the shot is anymore, but rather how overpowering it can be.

Hockey has changed largely because the well-oiled machine that keeps running has become more grandiose. The business side is obvious, and so is the fitness part of it. But the tech side doesn’t get the same treatment when it really should. Could a good portion of players in the NHL be there — and stay there — playing with the greats of the 70s and 80s without the same support system? What would some of those players be like with today’s training regimen?

The hyperbaric chamber, something divers used to travel deep underwater, was considered a big breakthrough in the NHL during the early 90s because it increased the amount of oxygen to the blood so that player injuries could heal faster. But then they went too far after using it on uninjured players.

Gaining an edge is important in any pro sport, but radical changes can be tough for some to handle. How else to explain big 220-pound men being concussed, despite wearing gear that technology has supposedly proven to be a lot safer to use. When another 220-pound man is flying towards you at 40 km, you’re bound to feel it.

Imagine what role the Thermablade could have under that scenario.

About G4 in Canada
G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.

Tech News on G4

Thermablade

February 29, 2008

By Ted Kritsonis - G4 Canada