Therma Blade. Remember that "revolutionary" ice hockey blade that would change the game as we know it? Many investors jumped on board with this new invention, including Wayne Gretzky, and some people that I know personally.
Once the functional battery was in place he and a partner, Jeremy Furzer, began running tests and soon found that heated blades at 5 degrees celsius (48 degrees farenheit) can produce 50 to 75 percent less resistance to motion. Think curling, when the friction of the broom warms the ice for the rock to glide smoother. The same concept works with the warm blade which melts more ice and thus glide on a slightly thicker layer of water.
Their tests also proved that the reduced friction allows players to reach top speed faster and to skate using less energy. Physiological benefits include a reduction in heart rate, increased stamina and less fatigue over the course of a hockey game.
With these facts now proven, in 2007 ThermaBlades caught the attention of the players and the league. With the help of an endorsement by hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, Canadian skate blade maker Therma Blade Inc. unveiled that the revolutionary new heated skate blade would be used by a group of NHL players to begin testing during NHL game conditions.
"There's no doubt that we are seeing the latest advance in the evolution of skating technology and I see Thermablade being popular equipment among NHL players," said Gretzky. "Thermablades are going to revolutionize the game of hockey. They represent the most significant advance in skate blade design in at least 30 years."
"The NHL is very interested in confirming the data provided by Therma Blade Inc., to establish the safety and reliability of the blade under NHL game conditions, and we have agreed to allow a small group of players to test these blades in games over the next few weeks," said Senior Manager of Hockey Operations Kris King.
"There is a lot of interest among players throughout the NHL right now to see how Thermablade performs under game conditions," said Stu Grimson, Associate Counsel for the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA).
In surveys of players who used the heated blades during product testing over the summer a positive outcome was discovered. 85% of players said the Thermablades were significantly smoother to skate on than conventional blades; 68% said they skated farther with less effort; about 61% said they accelerated more quickly; 63% said they felt less fatigue while playing.
With all that being said, why hasn't therma blades taken off in the NHL?
Tory Weber and his idea have went through a great amount of turmoil in the past few years. They hit a snag with the NHL. Despite Weber's attempt of grabbing the attention of many NHL players, and some who endorsed the product, the NHL did not approve of the blade.
Before the 2008-09 season Weber received a fax saying the NHL would not allow the blades for the upcoming season. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the leagues 30 managers were not comfortable with the blades. A combination of an old school attitude towards changing the game, the $199 cost of the blades (which is half price for the NHL) and the fear that the game is already too fast led to the demise of Therma Blades with the NHL. After its denial, the NHL suggested that Thermablade test its blades on players in the American Hockey League, but the minor league declined.
Thermablade was counting on the NHL to be a marketing tool for the blades and to influence the banks to lend more money. However, with a combination of the leagues denial, a poor economy and stricter lending policies - Thermablade's stock value plummeted and the company couldn't pay the bills. The company went bankrupt and more than 500 investors lost money.
----come back for part 2 Sunday, August 22nd----
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