CCM Tacks XR Pro Goalie Skate Review — Finally, Real Forward Pitch from CCM
Goalie skates — real forward pitch, finally, from CCM
On this week’s InGoal Radio gear segment, Kevin Woodley and Cam from The Hockey Shop break down the CCM Tacks XR Pro goalie skate — and the headline is the pitch. CCM has long been the neutral option on the skate wall, and the XR Pro puts you noticeably more on your toes, closer to the forward pitch most goalies are already used to.
- The XR Pro marks a major departure for CCM, adding forward pitch that the brand's goalie skates have historically lacked.
- Ann-Renée Desbiens switched to the XR Pro after being unable to use CCM's previous neutral-pitch skates — she kept the demo pair.
- A trimmed goalie toe cap and softer memory foam tongue reduce bulk and allow forward flex without lace bite.
- Step Black Steel comes stock with a profile already ground in, and the CCM ProPulse arch insole is included under the rivet cover as a peel-and-stick add-on.
- Available in senior and intermediate at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports; ideal for goalies who prefer forward pitch or have high arches.
CCM has long been the neutral option on the skate wall, and the Tacks XR Pro is the model that changes it. The headline is the pitch: the XR Pro puts you noticeably more on your toes, much closer to the forward pitch most goalies are already used to. Kevin Woodley and Cam from The Hockey Shop went through what is new.
The forward pitch
That one change opened the skate up to goalies who could never make CCM work. Ann-Renee Desbiens was one of them — she had not been able to get into CCM’s more neutral skates before. She tried the XR Pro, wouldn’t give the demo set back, and has been in them ever since.
Toe cap and tongue
The goalie toe cap is trimmed down, which cuts bulk and gives you a better attack angle. The tongue is a much softer memory foam, built to allow forward flex without the lace bite that usually comes with it.
Ankle and eyelets
Memory foam through the ankle heat molds and locks your heel back. The eyelet package is extended and curved so it wraps the foot, replacing CCM’s old ruler-straight lacing.
Steel and insole
Step Black Steel comes stock with a profile already ground in. Hidden under the rivet cover is the CCM ProPulse support insole — a peel-and-stick arch riser you can add right out of the box if you need more support.
Who it’s for
Goalies who like a forward pitch and have written CCM off in the past, anyone shopping a new top-end skate, and high-arch goalies who normally have to buy an aftermarket insole. The XR Pro is available in senior and intermediate at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports.
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