The Heat Beneath Their Feet

TORY WEBER'S IDEA, like many of the best ones, came to him by accident. One day several winters ago the now 43-year-old inventor from Calgary placed his sneakers atop a heater; after lacing them up, he realized that the soles slipped as he walked. Five years and $5 million worth of research later, Weber believes he stumbled upon technology that could change the NHL . His Therma Blade, which goes on sale (for $399) next month, is a skate with a battery-warmed blade heated to around 39�. Weber says the melted ice that surrounds the blade reduces friction—increasing speed, decreasing required effort and lowering a skater's heart rate. "That's why it's illegal to heat blades in speedskating and bobsledding," says former Olympic speedskater and Blackhawks skating coach Dan Jansen . "I guess it's possible for hockey, but the ice is pretty soft anyway."

Wayne Gretzky endorses the Therma Blade, and Kris King , the NHL 's director of hockey operations, called the idea "really interesting." In other words there are no plans to let pros use the skate, but Weber is lobbying the NHL to test it.