Grip meets glide.
Trust your edges.
Sharpening is rooted deep in our DNA — precision-trained staff, your sharpening history on file, and every major machine and cut in the building.
THE SHARPENING COUNTERPride in every single skate.
We take pride in every skate we sharpen. Rod Bolivar, the original owner of The Hockey Shop, knew this was the most important thing we could do to help our customers perform at their best — and it's been this way since 1988.
Precision. Every time you hit the ice, your edges need to be perfect. Every one of our sharpeners knows the importance of consistent, high-quality sharpening because they play too. When you step on the ice, your sharpening will be exactly what you asked for.
Better sharpening equals better performance.
— Pro or beginner — it's true either way
PRECISION BALANCE TRAINEDTrained. Tracked. Equipped.
Protocol. All of our sharpening staff complete our extensive Precision Balance training system. Nobody touches customer skates until they have a deep skillset and expert knowledge of everything sharpening.
Quality control. Each time you sharpen with us, we record who sharpened your skates and the hollow they were cut at. With your full history on file, our experts can advise exactly what sharpening is best for your game.
More choice is better. We've invested in the best machines and latest technologies — Blademaster, Blackstone, Pro-Sharp, and Sparx in-store — so every sharpening option is covered.
GET DIALLED INWe'll guide you to your perfect cut.
Looking to try something new? Maybe a hollow with a little less bite, or flat bottom sharpening for the first time? All the choices can make the process confusing — come by the shop and catch up with one of our experts to get dialled in.
Want to know more before you come in? The sections below outline the different cuts and vocabulary, so you can decide what's best for your style or what to try next.
SHARPENING BASICSIt's more than fixing edges.
High-level players are always changing their game and gear to find an extra edge — and one of the easiest ways to get it is a blade cut and profile that fits you, your environment, and your playstyle.
Sharpening may seem like simple maintenance, but there's more to it. You can play on any cut as long as the edges are sharp and even, but if the specs don't agree with you, it'll be difficult to reach your highest potential.
Sharpening is measured on a scale: deeper hollows offer better traction and enhanced agility, while shallower hollows offer better glide and more speed.
THE FULL MENUThe full sharpening menu.
A common misconception: blades aren't "sharper" or "duller" after sharpening — a "sharper" feel just means a deep cut, and a "duller" feel means a shallow one. Switch from 1/2" to 5/8" and it may feel under-sharpened, but you've really just moved to a shallower cut.
Everything we offer:
— Blademaster: Traditional Hollow (ROH)
— Blademaster: Flat Bottom Hollow (BFD)
— Blackstone: Flat Bottom V (FBV)
— Pro-Sharp: Z-Channel
— Sparx: Traditional Hollow (ROH)
RADIUS OF HOLLOWTraditional Hollow (ROH).
The traditional hollow is what most players use, particularly when starting out. Look at the bottom of your blades: they're curved with an edge on either side, and that curve could round off a circle — the radius of that circle is the Radius of Hollow.
A "standard" cut is 1/2", a good starting point that many adults stick with for its balanced bite. Need more traction? Go deeper — 7/16" or 3/8". Want better glide and speed? Go shallower — 5/8" or 3/4".
FLAT BOTTOM CUTSFlat Bottom V & BFD.
FBV and BFD sharpenings make minor adjustments to the bottom of the blade and look and feel a little different from a standard ROH. Made popular by the St. Louis Blues, these cuts promise longer glide and sharper turns using less energy.
The difference between the two is the shape of the "fangs" — FBV has straighter fangs, while BFD is rounder, like a traditional hollow.
Z-CHANNELZ-Channel.
Developed to keep the benefits of FBV while adding durability, the Z-Channel is rapidly becoming a favourite. With four edges instead of the standard two, it reliably delivers the best of both worlds in bite and glide — shallower hollows on both sides with a square channel down the middle.
The runners look and feel a bit different, but many who switch love the change — and switching back is straightforward. Because the Z-Channel shaves off less steel than a traditional hollow, it adds to the durability of the runner itself. Tip: you may want to go slightly deeper than your normal hollow when trying it.
Want a deeper dive, or help choosing? Come in or contact the shop and we'll get you sorted.
Get dialled in.
Bring your skates by the Langley store — your sharpening history is on file, and our experts will match the cut to your game.