If first impressions matter, the new CCM Tacks made a good one.

The first thing that jumps out is the new ProliteG Black blade and a significantly leaned out Prolite GS “Lo-Curve” cowling secured to the boot through a slick carbon fiber composite midsole. The new cowling is 12-percent lighter than its predecessor because the edges have been significantly reduced so they no longer wrap around the outside of the foot. CCM decided not to remove the cowling entirely, however, leaving the front portion of traditional toe cap to maintain added protection at a time when more goalies are wearing their pads loose enough to expose the skate to shots. While that tiny gap at the big toe between the new, slimmed down cowling and the inner black toe box leaves a little room for an even greater increase in attack angle, the new CCM Tacks skate still improves that angle by nine degrees compared to the original Reebok cowling, and by three degrees compared to the cowling on the RBZ skate.

Test goalies felt like their ability to hold that inside edge from a lower, wider stance was noticeably improved in the CCM Tacks, something they attributed to a combination of the improved cowling and the Black steel, which seemed to hold its edge even better. As for that new edge lasting longer, the responses varied and are purely anecdotal, but one tester felt like they needed to visit the sharpener half as often as they did with stock steel, which matches feedback from NHL goalies that started using a similar coating process years ago.





As for the fit and feel of the new CCM Tacks goal skate, the thinner, more shaped profile and heel contour is immediately evident compared to the Ribcor 50K, which makes sense since it does not have the “Pump” system to help lock in the goalie’s heel. The sidewalls, or “quarter package,” are stiffer and made of a texturized composite material with a metallic mesh, and designed to minimize the loss of energy transfer between the foot and the skate blade.

Combined with a heat-mouldable core, the idea is simple: by making all parts of this new CCM Tacks goalie skate stiffer, including that composite midsole between the boot and the cowling, there is less give when a goalie makes a push, which means more of the energy is transferred directly to the ice, rather than being lost in moving parts between the foot and blade.

They did not, however, want that stiffer boot cutting into the ankle so CCM added what they called an “Asymmetric Flex Stance Contour” to the inside top edge, providing a softer inner edge and contour to ensure the edge of the blade can dig into the ice in a low stance without the skate digging into the ankle, something one tester had struggled with in previous skates.

CCM also added its impact-absorbing D3O material it has been using in other protective products like the new Premier glove, using it on a new tongue designed to improve forward flex and eliminate lace bite, as well as in the insole. The latter not only improves comfort but also alleviates the physical strain of being on your feet all day, because unlike the rest of your teammates, we goaltenders don’t get to go sit on the bench between shifts.

CCM understood those differences when designing the new goalie skate, so while it may come under the Tacks name long popular among skaters, make no mistake, it was built for goalies.