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Figure Skating » Aggressive Skating

Inline Goalies - Make The Move From Sneakers To Skates For Less

Are you a non-skating goalie playing in an inline or roller hockey league and ready to make the move to skates? Before you consider coughing up $200-$300 for big name goalie skates, you might want to take an alternative and more economical option.

Consider purchasing a pair of aggressive skates to advance your game to the next level. Goalies on skates can move about their given radius of play a little quicker and can lunge from side to side with more leverage than sneakers. Inline goalies and aggressive skaters have a lot in common:


  • Their skating hardware takes considerable punishment

  • The skater maintains a low profile/center of gravity compared to conventional skaters/hockey players

  • The skater often moves in directions other than that of wheel rotation
    • Aggressive skates offer a number of features that are very attractive to the roller/inline goalie:

    • Sturdy frame construction

    • Reinforced sole plate

    • Reinforced inner boot side walls

    • Grinding bar offers increased rigidity of wheel axis

    • Durable outer boot shell protects foot from impact of puck/ball

    • Small diameter wheel offers low center of gravity for stability and maneuverability

    • Overall construction is built for punishment
      • How do the two types of skates differ?

      • Toe reinforcement is not as hefty on aggressive skate

      • Most goalie skates have 5 wheels for stability and maneuverability, where aggressive skates usually have 4 wheels with a grinding bar bridging the gap between inner wheels (no concerns that a puck can squeeze through)

      • Aggressive skates tend to have quick release strapping mechanism, where goalie skates are typically lace based

      • Aggressive skates generally cost a fraction of that of goalie skates
        • In my opinion, the differences in skate functionality do not justify the cost difference. Although aggressive skates vary in price, it is not too difficult to find a suitable pair at any of the plethora of online shops for about half the cost of goalie skates. You will probably find that a new pair of aggressive skates is even more economical than a decent pair of used goalie skates selling on your favorite online auction site.

        Before you start your search for aggressive skates, keep in mind that all are not created equal. Some are more suitable for goalie play than others. Here is a short list of construction details to avoid:


        • Soft outer shell construction, especially in the toe region. A soft skin covering a hard boot shell is acceptable

        • Wheels with low durometer (measure of hardness) rating. The ability to move (or slide) laterally will require wheels that are relatively hard. You might want to experiment with different wheels (this is true whether aggressive or goalie)
          • Once you have purchased your new aggressive skates, you can go ahead and use the money you saved to buy yourself a new composite goalie stick!

          Brian Thorward is a contributing writer for Bright Red Tech Hockey, an online portal for hockey equipment information/shopping. Brian spends endless hours scouring online hockey resources for useful information to pass on to fellow hockey players and parents.

          Source: www.isnare.com