Development of equipment to compare novel ice skate blade materials

Developments in the manufacture of ice hockey skate blades have allowed novel materials to be used in their production. Qualitative tests by players showed the benefits of the new blades to quantify the performance gain a system capable of measuring small difference in their coefficients of friction was required. Experimental equipment was developed that enabled measurements of real skate blade samples to be tested in game play conditions. A set of sample results are given to show the application of the equipment.