Goodbye, Zamboni?

[dangle 0]

If good quality synthetic ice ever becomes a reality, it might be the greatest thing to ever happen to the game.

In the article it says that a "special wax" is applied... so technically they're skating on this wax, not necessarily the synthetic ice.

I don't agree that it'll be the best thing to ever happen to the game. I totally disagree

[ean 0]

I think it's neat...but hockey without ice isn't hockey :)

[Neal 41]

It is possible that if energy costs continue to rise that ice hockey just won't be affordable for the majority of facilities. We might need a solution like this just to be able to continue to play.

[cxo 0]

Ice has something great that we all take for granted though, and that's "give". Ice is more forgiving than say cement, or other surfaces like in inline. Not sure what exactly the synthetic ice would be laid over, or what exactly the material is, but it sounds like it would be pretty painful to wipe out on.

[interpathway 9]

i imagine that LHS and the manufacturers of t-blades and those who sell them would love the idea of blades getting dulled quicker!!

although this video begs the question, if ovechkin freight-trains malkin on synthetic ice, would he glide when he hit the synthetic ice or just virtually "catch" the synthetic ice?

[Neal 41]

Ice has something great that we all take for granted though, and that's "give". Ice is more forgiving than say cement, or other surfaces like in inline. Not sure what exactly the synthetic ice would be laid over, or what exactly the material is, but it sounds like it would be pretty painful to wipe out on.

Does the fraction of an inch of ice over top of the concrete base really add any shock absorption?

[lampliter87 8]

i imagine that LHS and the manufacturers of t-blades and those who sell them would love the idea of blades getting dulled quicker!!

although this video begs the question, if ovechkin freight-trains malkin on synthetic ice, would he glide when he hit the synthetic ice or just virtually "catch" the synthetic ice?

It would be more of a "skid".

[lawryde 0]

I've skated on synthetic ice before, maybe not the same stuff as in this article, but it wasn't anything like real ice. Your glide is reduced significantly. Plus your blades get really hot! (Like 1st degree burn hot if you were to hold it on exposed skin.) I'd be concerned about warping them heating them up and then doing power turns or a hard stop.

[willsnipe 0]

Imagine a goalie,

any tpye of synthetic ice surface would result in goalies not being able to slide across the crease like they should, not to mention replacing pads much faster then usual.

[BK 0]

I will never skate on anything but ice. period.

[N!! 0]

It is possible that if energy costs continue to rise that ice hockey just won't be affordable for the majority of facilities. We might need a solution like this just to be able to continue to play.

I agree. Hockey has become more and more of a rich man's sport, and the ever-increasing cost of energy and utilities might be enough to cause a severe reduction in the number of people playing and the amount of time that they play.

It's bad enough that you get a few jerks in a drop-in who wage economic war by slashing someone's composite stick because they're not skilled enough to do something real tricky like a pokecheck or sweep check.

[jcp2 2]

It's bad enough that you get a few jerks in a drop-in who wage economic war by slashing someone's composite stick because they're not skilled enough to do something real tricky like a pokecheck or sweep check.

Bring a wood stick. It's just drop in.