"From the Locker Room" gives you access to the NHL equipment managers and trainers who provide tips and advice on everything from equipment fit and maintenance to injury prevention and recovery. So lace up, log on and get your questions answered by the pros who take care of the pros.

Skate Fit and Maintenance

Doug "Sluggo" Shearer, head equipment manager of the Washington Capitals, has spent the past 17 years honing his skills on equipment care and maintenance. He joined the Capitals in 1983 after serving as head equipment manager of the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears from 1981-83.

And for the first time anywhere, Doug is willing to share his experience with NHL fans around the world with the initial installment of "From the Locker Room."

Periodically, an equipment manager or athletic trainer from one of the 28 teams in the League will drop by to offer advice and tips, as well as answer your e-mails, relating to a given topic. This week, we are going to start at the bottom and work our way up with skate fit and maintenance.

Skate Sharpening

Skating is a key fundamental skill for a hockey player. Skates are the most important piece of hockey equipment, providing foot stability and protecting the ankle, achilles tendon and toe.

And as the most important tool in a hockey player’s arsenal, it is imperative that your skates are well maintained. A good skate sharpening can help or hinder your performance.

As an equipment manager, I perform the following three steps before each pair of skates I sharpen. I recommend that each of you follow these as well or make the person sharpening your skates aware of these guidelines. It will ensure a quality sharpening job and in turn, improve your play and increase the life your skates.

· Check the rivets and/or screws that attach the holder to the bottom of the boot. Make sure the screws are securely fastened and that no rivets are sticking out of the boot. If a rivet is protruding from the boot, ask for it to be replaced by your skate professional.

· Hold the skate blade up to your eye to make sure the steel is straight. An uneven blade can cause high edges, preventing you from making sharp turns or quick stops.

· Also, check for nicks or rolled edges in your blades. If you notice either of these blade imperfections, you can use a hand stone to smooth over the edges before sharpening.

And by sharpening, we are talking about creating a hollow in your blade. If you imagine a circle cut in half, the hollow is the groove running through the center of the blade. Carefully run your finger down the blade, and you can actually feel that hollow or groove in the steel. The deeper the hollow, the sharper the blade and the deeper it will cut into the ice.

Conversely, a shallow hollow creates less friction with the ice, allowing for more “glide”. Skates may be very sharp each way, but the depth of hollow will determine the degree of edge. As a “rule of thumb” heavier skaters (around 190 lbs. and over) will benefit from less hollow and more glide. Lighter skaters will benefit from more hollow with more “bite”. Different skating styles and personal preference will determine what “depth of hollow” will be right for you.

Peter Bondra, for instance, is a very strong skater who likes to make sharp turns. He likes a 3/8-inch hollow. In contrast, Sergei Gonchar uses a 1/2-inch cut in his skate blade because he is a more fluid skater, who likes to glide into his turns. Goaltenders need less of a hollow to enable them to move side to side, so goalies like Olaf Kolzig would have a one-inch groove in their blades.

My advice to new or young skaters out there would be to go with a 1/2-inch hollow initially, and as your skating improves you can move up to a 3/8-inch cut. If you are a bigger player, and want to try less hollow, go with a 5/8-inch cut and note the difference. Both changes will be noticeable, so experiment for yourself, and choose the hollow that suits you best.

Well, I’ve said enough -- now let me hear what you have to say:

Matt Eisenberg -- Larchmont, N.Y.:
I have never owned a pair of skates that didn't give me horrible blisters on both of my heels. Is there anything I can do to the boot itself to reduce the irritation pre-emptively?

If you don’t have properly fitted skates you are going to experience some sliding of the foot in the boot, causing friction that leads to blisters. It is very important to buy your skates in a reputable sporting goods store or pro shop with knowledgeable skate professionals who have experience in fitting skates. The following is a checklist that you can follow when purchasing new skates:

· Begin with the same size of your previous skates, or by following the size indicators provided by the manufacturer.

· Loosen the laces and insert your foot, pushing it forward until the toes hit the front of the skates. There should be at least one finger width between the heel and the inside of the back of the skate (heel counter). A snug fit in skates is very important, however they should not feel cramped or uncomfortable. If the space is larger than one finger width, go down to a smaller size.

· Before lacing up, kick the skate back and down firmly on the floor, allowing the heel to slide back into the heel counter.

· Lace the skate snugly but not too tight, so your foot is held firmly in place. Aim for a minimum of two inches of lacing width across the instep, to provide increased stability for the foot.

· When a two-inch lacing width cannot be achieved, move to the same size skate in a wider width. Widths are measured in the “foot” and “heel counter.” For example, a skate that is sized 9CA refers to Size 9 that is a C foot width size with a heel counter that is size A. The standard foot width size for most skates is C, while A is the standard heel counter size. Skate width sizes are similar to shoe width sizes, starting with A (smallest) and moving down the alphabet.

· Once the skate is laced, stand up and wiggle your big toe to ensure that it just touches the inside of the toe cap. Your toe should move freely and not feel wedged in. Walk around at least 10 to 15 minutes to test for comfort and for any hot spots or friction. If you do notice hot spots or friction loosen the laces and retire the skates. Make sure socks are smooth and not bunched up. If friction still occurs after these adjustments, try a larger size or different widths, going through the fitting procedure again from the start.

· Put your shin pads on and check to make sure your pads fit under or over the skate tongue comfortably, according to personal preference. Remember that wearing shin pads under the tongue minimizes gaps that could lead to injury.

Joe Hodge -- Detroit, Mich.:
I've never had my skates rockered and don't know if I should. My balance has been off the last couple of weeks and I don't know what's wrong.

The rocker of your skates, much like that of a rocking chair, is the amount and location of the blade on the ice surface. Another term for rocker is “radius”. This radius refers to the “heel-to-toe” radius that runs the length of the skate blade. A rocker can be placed more to the back of the skate blade, to the front or right over the instep. The optimal radius or rocker has the tendency to set a skater in a forward lean position. This forward stance allows players to roll up on their toes and get a lot better push off when moving forward. Skate “runners” (the term frequently used for the steel blade portion of the skate blade) may be changed. The smaller radius (9ft) allows for less “blade” on the ice, compared to the larger (11ft) which allows for more blade on the ice. Longer radius allows for more stability, and greater stride length, which is conducive to speed (speed skaters runners). The shorter radius, is conducive to greater maneuverability, and quicker turns. Through experimentation you can determine which “heel-toe” radius is best for your skating style. If you are having problems with balance then it might be time to have the steel-blade (runners) of your skates checked possibly have the radius changed.

Thomas Bocchini -- St. Louis, Mo.:
Despite drying out my skates immediately after use, a small amount of rust has started on the blades. I was told by a figure skating friend that they always use steel wool and honing oil on their blades. Is this necessary or helpful in prolonging skate life?

Carbon steel blades have a tendency to rust more quickly than stainless steel. After skating, dry the steel, the blade holder and the bottom of the boot thoroughly. Let your skates sit in room temperature until the steel thaws before you place your skate guards on. Rust is caused by moisture and you have to remember that the steel is cold after you skate. If you place your covers on the blade or throw your skates in your bag right away, little beads of sweat will form on your blades causing rust. Wipe the blades off immediately after skating, let them sit out for a while and then towel them off again before leaving the rink.

Erin -- Milton:
I was wondering what is the best way to break in a pair of skates? I have had my skates for six months and I skate a lot but they are still pretty stiff

We used to have many bizarre ways to break in a pair of skates. At one time, we would have players lace up their skates and then place their feet into the whirlpool. After about 15 minutes, the gel packs inside the boot would mold to the shape of the player’s foot. Today, we use something that is very similar to a conventional cooking oven. The skates are placed inside for about 10 minutes, after which time the player would lace up the boot to only ¾ tightness. Right after the skates come out of the oven the eyelids and heel counters are very soft and could break if the player puts pressure on the boot. Once the mold is set, the skates should not be used for 24 hours. This is a “state-of-the-art” technique, and should only be done with supervision of trained skate fitting staff. One important note, do not put your skates in your parent's kitchen oven.The stove for skates is made just for skates, unlike your household oven. Damage can be done to your skates, your oven and your home if used.

Sean Mayfield -- Dallas, Texas:
I've heard of the "Canadian" way of lacing up skates, what's the difference between that and the normal lacing style?

I was not aware of this style of lacing so I asked Chris Simon and assistant coach Tim Hunter, who informed me that there is a “Canadian” style of lacing. And what it is is an “over-under” technique. Instead of placing the laces under and through the eyelids, the “Canadian” style begins by going over the eyelids and through all the way up the boot. The benefits of this technique is that the laces do not easy come undone. This is great if you are a player but as an equipment manager, it makes it difficult to unlace the boot when I need to do work.

Loose Pucks: Peter Bondra does what he likes to call a tune-up, every 3,000 miles. He'll have me replace all the rivets and check the steel to make sure it's tight. He'll say, "'Sluggo' it's time for a tune-up." -- Doug Shearer

Dan Mark -- Rochester, N.Y.:
I was up in Toronto visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame. My buddy and I noticed several pairs of skates (including those of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier) that had some type of reinforced stitching on the sides of their skate boots. This puzzled us and we wondered what was the purpose, and would it be recommended for high school/college players?

Some players become very comfortable with a pair of boots. For instance, Peter Bondra has had a pair of boots for about six months. The stitching simply reinforces the boot, adds a little more stiffness to the boot. When skates start to “break-down” or seem to loose stability, this procedure can also add life to the boots and help them last longer.

Jay Desai -- Detroit, Mich.:
I am a goalie and have many nicks in my skates from sliding up against the post while attempting to make saves. Is there a way to fix this problem without getting my skates sharpened once a month?

Unfortunately, when you have metal hitting against metal, something has to give and most of the time it will be your blades. I sharpen our goaltenders' skates before every game and sometimes even after a game because they take chunks of metal out during a game. It’s important for goaltenders to have their edges, especially when they are sliding from side to side. There is a higher risk of injury for goaltenders if the edges of the skates are not well maintained. Checking your blades is very important for another reason if you are a goaltender. Goalies are constantly stopping pucks with their blades and pucks have a tendency to put bends in the steel producing S-curves in the blade. And once again, if you don’t pay attention to your blades prior to sharpening, you can end up with high or low edges.

Pete -- Haverton:
I noticed some guys on my team don't wear socks. Is there an advantage to going barefoot or is it just a personal preference?

Socks are simply a player’s personal preference. The one advantage of socks is to cut down on the odor. The socks absorb the perspiration before it has a chance to seep into your boot and will help your skates last longer. We have some guys who actually change their socks between periods.