Talking Skates

from John McGourty of NHL.com, This is the time of year when tens of thousands of hockey players will be buying new skates, so who better for advice on purchasing the right pair than Pittsburgh Penguins Equipment Manager Dana Heinze? NHL.com: Dana, what is the first consideration in purchasing and fitting skates? Heinze:  As a parent buying skates for a player at any level, take into consideration that there are a lot of brands and you are concerned with how that skate will perform for you. The key is what fits you best. There are so many good pairs of skates out there that it’s a matter of personal preference. NHL.com: What is the proper way to break in a pair of skates? Heinze: We fitted Matt Cooke this morning for a new pair of skates. He wore his previous skates for a long time. We had him custom-fitted, baked his skates for 2 1/2 minutes and then put them on his feet. At that time, we want the player to pull outward, not upward, on the laces because the boot is soft and there is a chance that you can pull the eyelets out if you pull upward. more