Warrior Enters the Skate Game: A First Look at the Alpha Pro Hockey Skates

The moment many have been waiting for is finally here. Warrior has officially entered the skate market. After years of speculation, curiosity, and countless questions from fans and players alike, the brand known for its elite-level sticks, gloves, and helmets is taking a bold step forward with the debut of their Warrior Alpha Pro hockey skates. This move marks a significant expansion in Warrior’s product lineup and signals the brand’s ambition to challenge the current dominance of Bauer, CCM, and True in one of hockey’s most interesting gear categories.

The unveiling of the Alpha Pro skates happened on the international stage recently, as Seattle Kraken forward Mikey Eyssimont made history by becoming the first player to wear them in a game. Eyssimont laced up the skates during the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he helped Team USA capture a gold medal. A now longtime Warrior user, Eyssimont’s decision to debut the new skates raises interesting questions about how Warrior selected him for such a milestone moment. It likely came down to availability, timing, and his willingness to try something new in a tournament that, while prestigious, doesn’t carry the same pressure as the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Eyssimont’s role as the pioneer of the Alpha Pro skates opens the door for more professional sightings to come. But that raises the question of who might be next? With the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs still ongoing at the time of the debut, it’s unlikely that even top Warrior-sponsored players would risk switching skates in such high-stakes games. The transition to a new skate model, particularly an unproven one, is not something most pros take lightly. Performance, comfort, and trust are critical at that level.

Looking ahead, the upcoming offseason and 2025–26 preseason may present more opportunities for Warrior to expand its footprint. Summer skates, training camps, and exhibition games typically provide a low-pressure environment for pros to experiment with new equipment. Whether more Warrior athletes will be spotted testing out the Alpha Pro skates this summer remains to be seen. But one thing is certain though, and that is that this is just the beginning.

Establishing a foothold in the NHL skate market won’t be easy. Bauer currently leads the field by a wide margin, with around 68% of NHL players using their skates. CCM and True divide the rest, and many of these players are deeply loyal to their gear. Even among Warrior’s most notable ambassadors, like Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, players seem committed to their current skates. Draisaitl, for instance, has long favored his CCM Ribcor 100K Pros. Changing his mind, and those of others, will take time and proof of performance.

Still, Warrior has made a bold, calculated entrance with the Alpha Pro skates, and the hockey world is paying attention. Over the next few months, it’ll be exciting to watch how this story unfolds. Will Warrior convert more pros to their new skate? Will we see a growing presence come preseason? At the very least, we can guarantee that the skate game just got a lot more interesting.

Photo Credit: Warrior Hockey