The frequency at which you should sharpen your skates depends mainly on how often you play hockey, how important freshly sharpened skates are to you, and how well you take care of your skates off the ice. In junior and youth hockey, it’s common to sharpen skates once a week, typically before a game.

Off the ice, always use skate guards to protect the blade from dirt and other debris that could damage the edge and profile of the steel. Additionally, you may consider purchasing a honing stone, either a fine honing stone to give a smooth final touch after sharpening, or a V-honing stone, which is designed to temporarily preserve the steel during games and practices.