The invention provides for a powered hand held apparatus for sharpening ice skate blades having an elongated frame with a drive pulley located at one and, and a driven pulley located at the other end. An abrasive grinding belt loops over the pulleys and passes over a convex grinding surface aligned with the pulleys. The pulleys, frame, drive belt, grinding belt and electric motor are contained in a housing having a skate guidance slot such that when a skate is inserted into the slot, the bottom edge of the skate is directed to the abrasive belt at the convex grinding surface.