Morinville Bladz: small-town roots, pro-level skate care

By Shelley Winger

For generations, hockey and skating have been central to life in Morinville. Families spend

evenings and weekends at the rink, players push themselves to new levels, and young children

take their first, wobbly strides on the ice. Now, with Morinville Bladz located inside the

Morinville Leisure Centre, the community has a dedicated place where skaters of all ages and

skill levels can receive professional skate care — combined with small-town warmth and pride.

The shop’s prime location makes it easy for players and parents to access services before or after

practices and games. “Yes, with our prime location for the hockey community providing them

with convenience. We are also working towards educating players and parents on the benefits of

our sharpening and how beneficial our profiling system is for players and recreational skaters,”

says Kiana Maloney, Bladz Manager.

Bladz welcomes walk-ins during business hours, providing flexibility for busy families and

athletes. “Yes we welcome walk-ins during our business hours which are currently

Tuesday–Friday 5–8:30 pm and Saturdays from 9am–5pm,” Kiana notes. This accessibility

allows skaters to have their equipment maintained without disrupting their schedules.

The team at Morinville Bladz takes pride in building strong, personal relationships with each

skater. Kiana emphasizes that their approach goes beyond sharpening: “We work with each

individual skater to help maximize what’s best for their skates, as well we build relationships

with each individual skater making them a part of our Bladz family. We are small town wanting

to support small town, as some of us are born and raised in Morinville and are working for

companies in our community. We are of the belief that we are small town looking out for small

town. We are working on collaborating with the local hockey clubs for tournaments and

apparel.”

Bladz provides a full range of services, including skate sharpening, skate profiling, skate repairs,

alignments, helmet adjustments, skate analysis, and custom team apparel. Their expertise comes

from years of professional-level training. Lead technician Dan Maloney trained in Harrow,

Ontario, and has worked at NHL, AHL, IIHF, and WHL levels, giving athletes a chance to

maximize performance through custom sharpening and profiling.

The team combines this high-level skill with a commitment to the Morinville community. They

aim to help skaters of all levels — from competitive hockey players to recreational skaters — get

the most out of their equipment while fostering a supportive, family-oriented environment. By

collaborating with local hockey clubs, supporting tournaments, and offering team apparel, Bladz

strengthens the local skating and hockey culture in ways that extend beyond the ice.

Kiana reinforces the team’s dedication to small-town values and personal care. Their goal is for

every skater to feel valued and supported while receiving top-quality service. “At the end of the

day, we want every skater to walk out of here knowing their equipment is ready, and that we

truly care about their success,” she says.

For Morinville families and athletes, Morinville Bladz has become more than just a skate shop. It

is a hub where professional skill meets small-town commitment, where every blade is sharpened

with care, and where skaters feel like part of a family.