Kukla's Korner Hockey
Helmet Technology Keeps Improving
by Paul on 06/10/10 at 05:53 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Wayne Karl at TSN,
Some of the most popular helmets among NHLers comprise a basic plastic shell and thin white vinyl nitrate padding –far from the best protection, and have been around for years.
“At the pro level, we see a lot of what we would call an entry level price point helmet,” says Wes Huether, director of training and operations support at Pro Hockey Life, a major Canadian hockey specialty retailer. “A lot is driven by fashion – the mirror test. The lighter weight, smaller, thinner liner helmets, super comfortable, real nice fit, but certainly not front notch when it comes to protection.”
Some critics argue that manufacturers have not done enough to introduce new helmet technology in recent years. But in reality, all of the major suppliers have made it a priority. Innovations include the use of expanded polypropylene padding, a higher energy impact-absorbing material to replace thin vinyl liners, combined with comfort foams and improved shell designs.
“Helmet technology has certainly come a long way in the last three to five years,” says Huether. “Manufacturers are focusing on what’s going on inside the helmet, trying different types of liners and padding, different technologies.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Hockey Equipment, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
A) 80% of concussions are caused by contact with the jaw. A good mouthguard does a better job in preventing a concussion than a good helmet.
B) The more high-tech the helmets get, the uglier they get. I don’t want to see any more hideous cascade or mission buckets. Every NHL player should be forced to wear the Bauer 4500.
C) As SYF said above, it doesn’t matter what kind of helmet a player is wearing. It isn’t going to stop the head trauma from an elbow to the face at 30mph.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 06/11/10 at 09:27 AM ET
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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
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Jeebus, all the awesome helmet technology in the world isn’t going to stop the headshots the league is trying to minimize.
Posted by SYF from the Flood on 06/10/10 at 05:57 PM ET