Local Sports Store Acquires Toronto Maple Leafs’ Skate-Sharpening Machine

Local hockey players in North Simcoe now have the opportunity to have their skates sharpened on a machine that once served Toronto Maple Leafs stars such as Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. Competitive Edge Sports, located in the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, has acquired the team’s former skate-sharpening machine, providing a taste of NHL quality to local athletes.

Dean Bezanson, owner of the sports store, confirmed the acquisition, stating, “We’ve had it now for a couple of weeks. It had been with the Leafs for three years.” He further emphasized the machine’s precision, noting, “This is NHL quality. The quality of it is very precise in its sharpening. Each hollow is very precise.”

The acquisition was a result of Bezanson’s search for high-quality models, which led him to Montreal-based Elite Technologies. After exploring the company’s offerings in Sudbury, Bezanson returned impressed and reached back out to the firm. He recounted, “They said you can help us out. They told me the Toronto Maple Leafs want to upgrade, but want to sell their machine first.” Following this, Bezanson negotiated a deal with the Leafs’ equipment manager.

Bezanson jokes about the machine’s capabilities, “This machine is going to outperform me,” but acknowledges the $60,000 investment was worth it. He assures that customers “are getting the most precise skate sharpening on the market.” However, adjustments were necessary to accommodate a variety of skates beyond those used by professional men’s teams, including youth, women’s, and figure skates.

Competitive Edge Sports caters to a high volume of customers, sharpening approximately 20,000 skates annually. Bezanson highlights that Junior C and representative-level players lean towards frequent sharpenings to ensure their performance on the ice remains optimal. The store offers a skate-sharpening card for $90, valid for 12 sharpenings, with a regular rate of $10 per sharpening session.

Despite the acquisition, Bezanson plans to retain his Blademaster machine, acquired for $30,000 three years ago. “This (the Leafs’ former machine) is a huge investment. We now have easily $120,000 worth of skate sharpening equipment,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of offering top-tier services to their clientele.