Ryan Arthur
Principles of Sustainability
Hockey Helmets
In the NHL it was tradition and part of the sport to play the game, a
very fast paced and aggressive game, without helmets. Kids grew up playing
hockey on ponds frozen lakes, or even makeshift rinks in their backyards. The
only thing they would have on their head would be a wool cap mom made them put
on so they wouldn’t get cold. It was and still is a tradition to lay the game
outside and play it without a helmet, just you and the elements. In 1959 the
first hockey mask was worn during a game when the goalie got hurt. Montreal Canadiens goalie, Jacques Plante,
was hit in the face with a shot and after getting stitched up, he returned to
the ice with the goalie mask he’d been using in practice. Canadiens coach Toe
Blake wouldn’t let Plante wear the mask during games, but Plante said he
wouldn’t go back on the ice without it. Blake agreed, as NHL teams didn’t have
back-up goalies at the time.
This was a
fiberglass mask that covered his entire face. He ultimately won the game, but
was largely considered a coward by hockey purists at the time. The mask now
rests at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The fiberglass mask was used as a last
resort if you were hit in the face and needed protection. This was the first
case when players started wearing masks. The fiberglass masks didn’t become a
normal occurrence until the late 1960s for goalies. The last North American
player to not wear a helmet was Andy Brown in 1974. NHLers first wore molded
plastic helmets, imported from Europe, in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, General
Electric produced the “Patterson Helmet.” It was made of a synthetic material
called Lexan and featured a suspension system that kept the head away from
contact with the outer shell. With this being the first version of the hockey
helmet, although it was better than nothing, the helmet did have some flaws.
The helmet was either to loose or did not fit properly at times causing more
injuries than it helped. During the 1970s, improvements in ventilation,
comfort, and visibility made headgear more entertaining of an idea to pro
players. On June 1, 1979, the NHL enacted a rule requiring the wearing of
helmets for anyone entering the league after that date, though a “grandfather”
clause allowed diehard veterans to continue to go helmetless if they wished. Ongoing
advances in foam technology, hard plastics, and structural configuration made
helmets much lighter and stronger. And the clear Plexiglas visor, introduced in
the 1980s, quickly developed to the point that glare, distortion, and fogging
were virtually eliminated. Today, nearly two-thirds of all NHL players wear a
visor. Every year improvements to the plastic, foam, and visor make the NHL and
hockey much safer. With more of a concern in concussions over the past 10 years
Hockey helmets are made with a hard plastic
shell for the outer portion of the helmet to protect from shots and hard force
from hits. The inside shell of a hockey helmet is generally made of a substance
called vinyl nitrile. This product is used to disperses force from the point of
contact and or absorb the energy, to reduce the chances of concussion. The
facemask is usually steel or titanium for all junior level players. For all
professional players they usually wear Lexan shatterproof plastic that protects
their eyes. A cage can be used for quite a long time, as long as it doesn’t
begin to rust. A diligent owner who takes the helmet out of the bag to sit and
dry after each skate can feel safe in a cage for over 10 years. Visors and full
bubbles probably shouldn’t be used more than 5 years, as the coating will wear
and crack and scratches will emerge, and the plastic itself will slowly weaken,
just like a helmet. Besides the metal cages, all of the plastic used for masks
or the helmet itself are recyclable. The lifespan of the item as a whole is
very long. Kids keep their helmets from years past to remember those teams and
their friends. I personally still have full hockey helmets from when I was 8. I
have four hockey helmets in my house from all the teams I have played on since
then. I would say most don’t get thrown away; they are recycled or “recycled”
as in given down to other players who could use them. About say 20% actually
get thrown away. Most people will keep them as memories or give them to
siblings or friends to still use.
Hockey Helmets have a hard plastic shell and an
EPP liner affixed with glue. Examples of hockey helmets are Bauer 4500, Cascade
M11, and Easton S-series. Hockey helmets pass HECC standards. The
protective liner, EPP, is expanded poly-propylene and this type of foam is more
responsive and bounces back to it’s original condition after contact. Hockey
helmets are designed, and tested for, multiple impacts over time. These helmets
are tested by dropping them ,with a head-form inside, 3 different times in the
same location, and repeating this test in several locations. They should
be replaced when they are showing signs of wear (cracked shell, padding
becoming unglued) or upon their expiration date (6.5 years after testing).
Hockey helmets are held to the ASTM F1045 rating.
EPP is eco friendly plastic foam
used for energy management and cushioning solutions. It is recyclable and is
made through a complex process by combining polypropylene resin with “magic
dust” and applying heat and CO2 into an object called an autoclave; the EPP
starts off in small plastic beads. To be used, the beads and injected into
molds to form different object to be used. Other than hockey 
helmets, EPP is used for a number of things. EPP is put into cars,
packaging, and thermal insulators. In the car EPP is used for seating, interior
safety, and in the bumper. With its lightweight design and strength allows for
safety on the interior and absorbs impact. For packaging EPP is used for
keeping fragile and important items safe with its impact absorption it allows
things to be bumped I travel without harming the item. Most common items that
use the foam are medicine items, prostheses, and hygienic products. The foam is
used for protection, temperature control, sterilization, and security. Lastly,
because of its energy absorption, it is used in HVACs. Things such as pumps,
motors, boilers, and heat-exchangers are placed inside the systems to absorb
the heat to allow for proper transportation. They are usually housed in ARPRO
casings for durability.
helmets, EPP is used for a number of things. EPP is put into cars,
packaging, and thermal insulators. In the car EPP is used for seating, interior
safety, and in the bumper. With its lightweight design and strength allows for
safety on the interior and absorbs impact. For packaging EPP is used for
keeping fragile and important items safe with its impact absorption it allows
things to be bumped I travel without harming the item. Most common items that
use the foam are medicine items, prostheses, and hygienic products. The foam is
used for protection, temperature control, sterilization, and security. Lastly,
because of its energy absorption, it is used in HVACs. Things such as pumps,
motors, boilers, and heat-exchangers are placed inside the systems to absorb
the heat to allow for proper transportation. They are usually housed in ARPRO
casings for durability. 
The plastic shell
for hockey helmets is a Polycarbonate for impact resistance with a temperature
resistance for the cold weather to make sure the plastic doesn’t crack during
contact. The shell is high impact resistant, as well as scratch resistant. Polycarbonate,
or PC, is fully
recyclable because it is made from a natural resource (oil). The usual process
for recycling polycarbonate is to sort, shred, and wash the plastic before turning
it into granulate ready for manufacturers to use again. This plastic is also
used for motorcycle and football helmets. Where football is known for heavy
impacts and concussions, hockey helmets need to be more protective. Even though
hockey players are 20% smaller than football players, hockey hits are 17% harder
than football hits. With checking at high speeds along boards or at open ice,
players need to be protected for impact from players, glass, boards, ice,
stick, etc. The PC partnered with the EPP allows for maximum protection as the
helmet absorbs part of the hit and the foam takes the rest and disperses it
along the helmet making the force and point of the contact less harsh. The PC is produced by the reaction of Bisphenol A
(BPA) and Phosgene
COCl. Other applications are, electronic, construction materials, automotive,
aircraft, and security components.
For masks, there are many different
types. For all junior level players (including college players) they have a
choice between titanium masks or full Lexan masks players like to call bubbles.
The regular masks can be argued they are harder to see out of, but the
“bubbles” can fog up during the game. For Professional players, they either do
not wear a protective mask or the wear half-masks for nose and eye protection.
Without the bottom portion of the make the junior players wear, it is easier to
breath and talk on the ice; however, there are more risks involved. The
half-mask is Lexan shatterproof
plastic. Titanium is a chemical
element with symbol Ti and atomic
number 22. It is a transition
metal with a silver
color with low density and high strength. Because the mask is so light, but is
so high strength, it is great for players to wear in the game without it
interfering with their play. Lexan is a commonly used replacement for glass and even Plexiglas
in a variety of areas. It is stronger and more resilient, but still providing
many of the same benefits of glass. Lexan is a name for a sheet of
polycarbonate that is considered to be a shatterproof material. Though still
technically a plastic, Lexan is stronger and more durable than either
traditional glass or the plastic. Lexan is made through a patented chemical process
by reacting a chemical compound called Bisphenol A with carbonyl chloride; the
base resin that makes up Lexan is produced. Only sheets that are between .03
inches and .48 inches are ever referred to as actually being Lexan.
Different helmets use different technologies
for protection. For Bauer, they used just a foam coating inside the plastic
shell. Now, with the game being faster and guys being bigger, they have had to
come up with new technologies to keep the players safer. Bauer uses 7
technology in its helmets, which is also what current lacrosse helmet company
Cascade uses. It is based on the study of 7 points of contact for the head and
protecting those points. They have come up with liners and padding to pair with
the 7 technology to make helmets the safest they have ever been. Easton hockey
has taken its own spin on the helmet technology putting in different points of
impact for their helmet and using foam that is supposed to spread an impact
through the helmet making it less forceful. Where there is no perfect helmet
that will stop concussions, these companies use different ideas to make the
helmet protective as possible and also as comfortable as possible. Helmets work
best when they are worn properly. If the helmet is not comfortable, any player
with adjust it as such no they can play with no problems. If not adjusted
properly, even a little hit can cause a concussion because the helmet hit a
spot it shouldn’t of.
For every helmet there is a standard they need to meet. To meet this
requirement the Hockey Equipment Certification Counsel, or HECC, gives the OK
on all protective equipment. HECC
is a non-profit organization that was created at the request of USA Hockey in 1978. The purpose for creating HECC was
to establish an independent certification body for amateur hockey equipment,
primarily head protection. USA Hockey mandates the use of HECC Certified
Equipment. A number of
volunteers representing several different professional organizations also participated
in establishing HECC. This independent organization has its own Constitution,
By-Laws, and Committee. The HECC certification program validates the manufacturers'
certification that the equipment they produce has been tested and meets the
requirements of the most appropriate performance standards. Because there are
so many different types of equipment on the market, the HECC certification allows
for the customer to know the equipment passes all tests. It also indicates that
the equipment meets the criteria specific to the body parts it was designed to
protect. HECC certified equipment is required by USA Hockey, the National
Federation of State High School Associations, and NCAA (facemasks only).
Players in college and the NHL play at a high enough level where the skill is
high enough for the players to get a pass on some of the certifications. They
believe the skill and smarts of each player can be enough to keep them safe.
This is shown by the players wearing old Bauer helmets with dated foam that has
old school padding making it very comfortable, but not as protective. They are
able to get away with this because they have been taught to protect themselves
and others when they play the game.
With different levels of play, kids
need different helmets. Below is a chart and explanation of all of the
different levels of hockey and how they are viewed in the eyes of players. This
allows people to understand what level the kids are and what kind of protection
they would need. From http://insideedge.onemillionskates.com/inside-edge/new-to-hockey-a-quick-rundown-of-the-different-minor-hockey-levels/, it goes through how the age groups are set
up for players. Kids don’t have to start worrying about hitting and contact
hockey until Peewee year. Starting Peewee year, a focus on protective head gear
needs to take place to allow the kids to be as safe as possible.
Initiation
(called Mini Mite in the United States)
The Initiation
division — called Hockey 1 and Hockey 2 in British Columbia — is the division
of minor hockey for beginning players ages five to six. It is mostly designed
to help youngsters learn the game while keeping the focus on fun.
Novice
(called Mite in the United States)
The Novice
division — Hockey 3 and Hockey 4 in British Columbia — is for players ages
seven to eight and, like the Initiation level, players are still learning the
ins and outs of the game.
Atom (called
Squirt in the United States)
Once players
(nine to 10 years old) reach Atom, it is common for top players to be selected
for A1 (AAA), A2 (AA), A3 (A) or B rep teams, which typically travel more than
recreational (house-league) teams and will play teams from other cities (rather
than within their own local association). Other players will remain in their
respective association’s “house” league, which is designed for those who do not
want, or are not ready for, the intense competition of rep-level hockey.
Peewee
The Peewee
division is for players aged 11 to 12 and, like Atom, often features both rep
and house-league levels.
Bantam
The Bantam
division is for players aged 13 to 14. It is the division where many top
players begin to take things more seriously. For starters, second-year Bantam
players are eligible for the Canadian Hockey League’s Major Junior draft, and
junior-hockey scouts can often be found at many rep team’s games.
Midget (or
Midget Minor)
Unlike the
previously mentioned minor hockey divisions, players stay in Midget hockey for
three seasons (as opposed to two), from 15 to 17 years old. But like other
levels, there is still house-league competition, in addition to the various rep
programs.
Major
Midget
Most states in
the U.S. and provinces in Canada now have Major Midget divisions (sometimes
called Midget AAA). Major Midget, also for 15- to 17-year-olds, is considered
one step up from the top Midget rep team. Teams are often regional in nature,
consisting of players from a variety of nearby associations. They compete on a
regional circuit, often travelling on weekends.
Juvenile
The Juvenile
division is for players aged 18 to 20 who choose to continue to play minor
hockey rather than move on to the junior leagues.
Junior B
(called Junior AA in Quebec and Tier III in the United States)
Junior B hockey
is open to players from 16 to 20 years old. Junior B leagues are considered to
be a feeder system to the Junior A ranks, and even to the Canadian Hockey
League’s three Major Junior leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(QMJHL).
Junior A
(called Junior AAA in Quebec and Tier II in the United States)
Junior A is for
players aged 16 to 20 and is one level below the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
It is also a feeder system to U.S. and Canadian college/university teams. Each
province west of the Atlantic provinces has its own Junior A league (the
Atlantic provinces have a joint, regional league) and players are eligible to
be traded, not just throughout their own leagues, but to other leagues as well.
This is the preferred route for players hoping to obtain a U.S. scholarship to play
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey. This is because if they
decide to go the Major Junior route (see below) they become ineligible to play
U.S. college hockey. Players can, however, play college hockey in Canada once
their Major Junior careers are over.
Major Junior
(called Tier I in the United States)
Considered the
highest level of junior hockey, Major Junior teams compete in three leagues
across the country (along with some American franchises, too): the Western
Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Major junior players are considered professionals
in the eyes of the NCAA — they receive small stipends to play — and are
ineligible to play U.S. college hockey once they play in an official Major
Junior game. Major Junior is considered by many to be the best route for
players to go if they are seeking to have professional careers.
