Lion's Lair: Making high-performance skate blades

Chris and MikeVerticchio say theyve developed a product that is quintessentially Hamilton, combining two of the citys loves.

Steel and hockey, Chrissaid.

Their product? A hockey blade superior to anything in the Canadian market, the brothers say.

Mike, 26, has worked in hockey pro shops for the past ten years and says he got fed up with the quality of steel he was seeing when sharpening skates.

[The blades] are made overseas and the quality control just isnt there, he said. Theyre high in carbon, theyre soft, they rust.

In true entrepreneur fashion, Mikehad the idea to make his own. He approached mechanical engineer friend Nick Montecchia, who designed the skates, and hooked up with his brother Chris, 32, who has worked in sales and marketing in the steel industry for about a decade.

RZR Skate Blades, a custom-made blade with an edge thats five times harder and a core thats three times stronger than the average skate blade. What that means, Chrissaid, is the blades last about five times longer and wont lose their edge during agame.

The Verticchios believe the have a game-changing product on their hands.

The product

The game of hockey is changing, the brothers agreed.

Its more east-west, Mikesaid. There'smuch contact, the players are faster and stronger, you cant skate north-south.

Our skates have a tougher core to producepower and resist force on the ice, Chrischimes in.

With their product, players dont need to worry about breakage, brittleness, lost edges or snow piling up on the blade, he said.

RZR blades are made to fit high-end boots, with custom blades for several popular skate brands like Bauer, Easton or Reebok. But Chris points out the blades that come on these boots are nowhere near the quality of RZRs blades.

You wouldnt put the same tires on a van and a Porsche, Chrisadded.

Right now, the Verticchios are looking for a third party to endorse their product and had plans to meet with Brock Universitys skate lab for testing.

But through their own connections from playing in local leagues and being around the citys rinks, theyve found a few professional players who love their product. One is Ryan OConner, a Hamilton player who is in Davos, Switzerland with the Swiss Elite League, Mikesaid. Theyve also got the Senior Stoney Creek Generals wearing their blades.

RZR blades have been on the market, selling online and in high-end pro shops, since June and retail for about $120, but Mike said they pay for themselves in a season in sharpening.

The team

The Verticchios product marries Hamiltons love for hockey and history of steel, but also allows these closely-knit brothers to work on a venture together.

We love the game, weve both dreamed of this, Chrissaid. It brings the two things we have been involved in for the last 10 years together.

Both Chrisand Mikegrew up playing hockey in Stoney Creek and now still participate in local mens (read: beer) leagues.

They both have maintained their day jobs Chrisin the steel industry and Mikecoaching hockey and working around rinks.

Why RZR should win Lions Lair

Weve created something that could change the game, Mikesaid.

And its a real product that is being manufactured, sold and is in demand, Chrisadds.

Not to mention, its manufactured in Hamilton with steel that comes from the U.S.

Were utilizing the resources here, Chrissaid.