One of the most profound hockey training aids to ever hit the market is synthetic ice. Ever since it made its first public appearance in the early 1960s this tough, lightweight hockey flooring has steadily evolved into the most-wanted hockey flooring around. It is practical, easy to install, and can be implemented just about anywhere that has a flat surface and a little bit of room. The sheer fact that it can be installed in the home and has the capability to allow people to ice skate from the comfort of their own homes makes it one of the greatest contributions to the hockey community ever.
What Synthetic Ice Is
Back in the early 1960s artificial ice made its way into the big time because of the ever-growing popularity of figure skating. Yes, hockey played a big part in the evolution of synthetic ice, but in the United States, the potential to have an American winner in the winter Olympics was growing ever closer back in those days. If only there was a practical way to allow skaters to practice and train throughout the year in all seasons without the need for a frozen ice rink, it would be great.
A team of great developers joined together and began a difficult journey that led to the synthetic ice we know today.
What synthetic ice is, in simple terms, is modified plastic. However, not all plastics are created equally. The plastic that is used today in the production of hockey flooring is polymer plastic that has been engineered and enhanced by some very great minds.
Creating polymer plastic products from the molecular state allows the creator to add, remove and even modify cells within the polymers. It is within this method that developers have been able to produce the type of flooring that is equipped with lubricating and conditioning properties.
In order for synthetic ice to be able to compete with real ice, it has to be able to allow a self-lubricating system so that, like ice, whenever the ice skates glide across the surface a tiny amount of lubricant allows the skater to ease across the flooring gracefully and without resistance.
After many years filled with trial and error the appearance of artificial ice that could compete with real ice finally emerged.
Early Synthetic Ice Rinks
The early stages of the evolution of synthetic ice were a bit challenging. The flooring that was first introduced to the world was only slightly effective if there was a constant application of a special lubricant called a gliding agent.
This gliding agent was made out of a silicone-based solution that allowed skaters to skate across the surface without too much resistance, however, there were many drawbacks to this method.
One drawback is that although the floor was fairly slick, it was nowhere near as slick as ice. Yes, the skaters could skate upon it, but it was not easy for them.
Another drawback, besides the constant need for lubrication, is that since the gliding agent was silicon-based, it would leave behind a layer of grime on the surface of the flooring that had to be constantly scraped away. If the skaters tried to skate across the flooring with too much gunky buildup, they would not be able to move very far at all.
As time continued to move forward, so did technological advances. These advances led to the discovery of many things including ways to advance the primitive artificial ice flooring of those days.
Practicing Hockey on Synthetic Ice
One of the most monumental effects that synthetic ice has had on the hockey industry is that it can be installed in a home where people can ice skate without having to go to an ice skating rink. They don’t even have to leave their home in order to ice skate.
The typical person can build and install a full-sized hockey-playing rink on their property for less than $5,000. Keep in mind, a traditional ice skating rink costs several million dollars to build. So, if a person is serious about their hockey game they can install a whole rink in their home for a fraction of the cost of a real ice rink.
As a result of being able to install a skating rink at home, hockey players have been able to get more practice and training than ever. If you think about it, the more practice a person gets, the better player they become. If all of the hockey players were to practice 10% more than they would have normally, it would be a 10% increase in the level of skills that the players will bring to the game.
One thing about practicing on synthetic ice as opposed to practicing on frozen water is that the synthetic ice causes the skater to use a little bit more energy in order to successfully skate across the surface.
There is not so much of a drag that it makes it difficult for skaters to glide across the floor, it is just a slight amount of difference. However, it is enough of a difference that will cause the player to gain strength and stamina as they practice. Practicing on synthetic ice actually causes the player to gain skills, just by using it.
Practicing in the Summer Months
In a world without synthetic ice, the only way to practice ice skating during the hot summer months would be to get to a cooled ice skating rink where everything has to stay below freezing in order for players to be able to practice. This means that either somebody had to pay for and maintain an indoor skating rink for summer use, or that nobody would be able to ice skate until the world grew cold again.
Most of the synthetic ice that is on the market today is built with plastic molecules that block out the dangerous rays of the sun that cause damage. What this means is that a person could install an ice skating rink outside in the heat that would not be subjectable to the harsh summer heat that would normally destroy an ice skating rink.
Year-round practice leads to year-round gains and skill-building. Synthetic ice has made it possible for hockey players, all over the world, to play and practice ice hockey throughout the entire year in all kinds of weather.
Hockey Games on Synthetic Ice
Although synthetic ice has not reached the type of quality that the Olympics would consider to be adequate for games, that doesn’t mean that people can’t play hockey on it. In fact, there are plenty of games around the world that people play on synthetic ice rinks. Maybe someday soon this kind of flooring would be acceptable for championships to be played on, but until them people will just have to wait and play indoors on real ice.
Conclusion
It used to be, at one time, the majority of hockey players considered synthetic ice to be less than worthy of a person actually using it to gain skills, or play games. Now that the quality of the panels has gotten so much higher, and the need for at-home hockey practice has exploded many of the people that were once against it are willing to give synthetic ice a try and learn for themselves that it is a great tool that provides substantial training potential for novices and pros as well.