CCM Tacks return to the hockey skate market this week

Photo from TotalHockey.com

 

By Robert Bondy –

CCM is bringing back an iconic brand to recreate a skate that gives players a combination of speed and comfort with its latest version of the CCM Tacks.

The Tacks name, which began in the 1950s, has been rebooted by CCM, and the latest model hits the public market in two days.

“The new CCM Tacks skate is a new modern version of a legendary skate construction for the CCM brand,” said Jeff Dalzell, senior business unit director of skates. “We tried to draw on the key elements that made the Tacks original skate lines so successful, by upgrading the famous Tack strap to a more innovative composite ‘Attack Frame.'”

The new ‘Attack Frame’ helps provides the player more support along the spine to improve heel lock, and along the facing area for an improve stiffness of the skate, Dalzell said. It’s also is able to store and transfer energy to create an increased acceleration in the first five strides.

Another key feature of the new CCM Tacks is an increased focus on forming the skate to the player’s foot. Dalzell said the heat mold-ability with their T6 Pro core creates the “best of both worlds” with a stiff skate build, but also a true custom fit to the player’s foot. Once in full swing after the skate is heated and molded to the foot, the new custom fit will create a better feel and improved skating ability.

“The most important aspect of any high performance skate is the overall fit, something we wanted to make sure wasn’t compromised with the Tacks skate as we added increased reinforcements,” Dalzell said. “With the added heat mold-ability of the CCM Tacks skate, you now have the best of both worlds, a stiff skate construction and a custom fit to your foot.

“Reducing the gap between your foot and the skate’s stiffer outer surface, means when you move, your skate moves with you, improving your overall efficiency as a player while still remaining comfortable.”

Dalzell added that the custom fit played a big role in some NHL players making the switch to the newer version of the CCM Tacks late in the season.

The final big upgrade on the CCM Tacks is the enhanced blade and holder technology. The CCM Tacks now comes with the new SB+4 Blade that was originally launched with the CCM RBZ skate last year. Combining the new blade with and an enhanced holder, Dalzell believes the CCM Tacks will give the player the best possible turning radius and stride length.

“This new holder adds +4.0 mm, highest in the industry, which allows players to significantly improve turning radius and stride length without the additional weight gain that you would get from the traditional steel options that exist on the market,” Dalzell said.

Those interested in the new CCM Tacks will have to wait until July 18 to snag a pair. However, preorders are being taken on multiple sites and locations to guarantee a pair of CCM’s next great skate.