The Great Steel Debate

There are many aspects to the game of hockey from a mental, physical and equipment standpoint and none of it would matter without the actual hockey skate. Pro skates come in a multitude of options from the tongue to the liner or even the amount of eyelets a skate has but further more being perfectly dialed into all of those details only helps you push into that tiny steel runner at the bottom of your skate holder helping power you through the ice. Needless to say your steel is pretty important... And when it comes to it you have a few options stock steel, step steel and Black edge are the main steel offerings you will find.

All skates wether purchased through a retail store or custom ordered on your team account come with a fairly generic stock steel offering. The stock steel varies by manufacturer but for most it is normally fine.

Bauer hockey has a few different stock steels that they offer depending on the model. For years Bauers top end skate came with the Bauer Fusion runners. This steel was essentially half of they're signature ls2 steel fused with a lighter aluminum steel at the top half, that would fit into your skate. While this did save a fairly noticeable amount of weight It created a "soft" steel that didn't retain an edge very long. You would end up needing to re sharpen these blades so often that it would wear down to that aluminum layer faster than most would like. This steel also suffered some bending and durability issues but the weight it saved did attract some. Most notably Peter Sykora of the Devils was a big fusion steel supporter.

Recently in the new 1X model and moving forward Bauer is not sending their skates out with fusion steel. Skates now will come with Ls4. Ls 4 is a much higher grade cut of steel in addition to being a better quality steel it comes at a taller height than previous Bauer steels such as the fusion and traditional ls2, Ls4 comes at the same height as Ls3 which with the added height provides a bit more longevity and a greater turning radius. Ls3 and Ls4 both come profiled out of the box at a 10' radius. Ls4 however is improved on the ls3 by being finished with a polished mirror coating that helps it retain an edge longer and bite the ice a bit more in each push.

Hundreds of NHL players use Ls4 and Ls3 steel, it is the highest grade of steel offered on the Bauer light speed edge holders which is being heavily recommended and borderline mandatory on some teams. Players include Jamie Benn and Steven Stamkos.

CCM hockey stock steel has taken major leaps forward in recent years. Top end CCM RBZ line skates now come with HyperGlide steel which is another polished steel. This steel however was finished with the polish and is actually embedded into the side walls. This allows the steel to be stiffer when gripping the ice and creates a nice smooth finish while sharpening helping the steel glide through the ice. It also helps resist knicks and retains an edge better however this steel can not be stoned after sharpening with a traditional hand stone. If your local shop does not have the special hand stone for coated steels it is best left in stoned but stoning can remove the mirrored coating which ruins the steel. 

CCM ribcore model skates now come with Speed Blade Black runners. This blade is based upon after market steel company Black edge. It is a regular steel again coated in what is almost like a carbon type of Finnish. This blade feels soft to the touch but is the easiest of all to sharpen and provides what I consider to be the best bite into the ice even at the shallowest of cuts. The carbon coating is one that again helps maintain an edge and prevent abrasions to the blade and absolutely must not be stoned. This coating wears off the steel very easily one improper stoning can ruin the blades. Hyper glide and speed blade black are inter changeable between models, both fit speed blade 4.0 holders.

Step steel was one the first and has been the largest after market steel company. Step originally got started by providing higher quality cuts of steel under a Trusted Canadian brand. Step originally made any stock steel in a better quality and taller to increase turning radius and attack angle out of stops and starts. Step also offers a full mirror finish coated steel called step velocity steel, It is the steel CCM's hyper glide blade is mimicked after. Step has recently taken a hit due to Bauers patent of the light speed edge holder system which does not allow them to manufacture runners to fit the edge holder system. Step however has some loyal followers who have elected to get light speed 2 holders on their new Bauer skates rather than the edge holders to accommodate their step steel, these players have included at times Tyler Seguin and Ryan Johansen.

(Step velocity pictured)

Black edge steel is another after market steel brand with a loyal following. Black edge was the first company to make a carbon coated runner. This runner plays much stiffer than any traditional steel really gripping through the ice when you push but allowing a seamless glide when moving straight up and down the ice. The carbon coating allows for a thin almost water like channel to pass under the hallow of the blade allowing for a much smoother and easier glide. This steel is also not to be stoned as it can and will ruin the carbon coating. Black edge makes their own steel for a variety of skate holders and while the Bauer patent does not allow them to produce a steel for the light speed edge holder they are allowed to coat pre existing Bauer steel. You can take your Ls3 blades to black edge hockey and have them carbon coated in black for the same performance you've come to expect from them without sacrificing the ease of you're edge holders. The entire Boston Bruins team are very fond of BLack edge steel especially Brad Marchand and Daniel Paille. 

After market steel used to be much more popular and sought after when the only stock offerings were Ls2 and E-pro blades. Due to the market share after market steels started taking however hockey companies have since started producing their own versions of them to help keep customers in brand name products. It has worked for som but some still swear by the originals. Only way to know for your self Is to try them all and see where your preference lies.

My steel rankings would be as follows

1. Bauer Ls3 edge coated by Black edge

2. Step velocity steel

3. CCM hyper glide

4. CCM speed blade Black

5. Bauer Ls4 edge

6. Standard Step Steel

7. Bauer Fusion steel