Concussions are a serious issue in all contact sports, ice hockey included. Helmets were made mandatory in the NHL at the beginning of the 1979 – 1980 season, over 30+ years ago. Yet, the number of brain injuries has continued to increase.
Helmets were initially designed and used to prevent skull fractures from falls, pucks or errant sticks. As time and research has progressed, the expected use of the helmet has as well. Today players and families expect the helmet to prevent brain injuries. Make no mistake about it, every concussions is a brain injury. But can you prevent a brain injury?
A recent study just conclude by Virginia Tech revealed that, for the most part, today’s helmet designs are not where we would expect or hope them to be. You can read about their findings by going to:
We have been working on a new concept in helmet design that looks at the potential impact from pre to post event. By doing so we are developing a model that is predictive, responsive and reactive with the intent of addressing the issue before it has a chance to occur.