VaTech study suggests hockey helmets are unsafe

[MRCboicgy]

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/...ds-many-unsafe

Out of 32 helmets in the marketplace that were tested by researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, nine failed to earn a single star on a five-star scale and were classified as "not recommended." Just one helmet, made by Warrior Sports, received three stars. The rest received one or two stars.

Virginia Tech's department of biomedical engineering and mechanics spent three years and $500,000 developing the ratings.

All 32 helmets rated by Virginia Tech were previously certified as safe by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council, or HECC, a non-profit organization. Helmet manufacturers make up part of HECC's certification committee, along with consumer and general interest representatives. Both the NCAA and USA Hockey, the national governing body for ice hockey in the United States, require that players use HECC-certified helmets. The NHL requires that helmets meet the requirements of both HECC and the Canadian Standards Association.

The school did something similar for football helmets in 2011, which led to changes in the way helmets were designed

[J epworth]

Really interesting. I am way overdue for getting a new helmet, have an old Bauer 4000 and the foam is falling out, good to know getting a new helmet doesn't mean I need to get an expensive one. Time to pick up a Warrior Krown 360!

[Resolute 14]

Hockey players wearing the "not recommended" helmets risk incurring at least six concussions per season, and in some cases more than eight, according to Virginia Tech.

lol, alarmist much?

It was already well known that current hockey helmets do little to protect against concussions, so if this study/test was based around that, then we've learned nothing new. There are groups already working on new designs.

[HOWITZER]

So my Jofa helmet is relatively safe after all?

[YYC in LAX]

Man, I love the Bauer 4500

[Dagger]

This is part of an interesting discussion that many contact sports will soon encounter. In general equipment is being made not to maximize safety but to not diminish performance. With a focus on lighter weight, and aerodynamics it allows games to be played at a faster pace which in turn makes collisions more violent.

It wouldn't surprise me that once these concussion cases start gaining more traction that the NFL and NHL in particular don't either change much of their contact laws or make equipment much more safety-oriented which will make for a lesser on-field product.