ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 27 April 2009
Page Count: 9

Preliminary Evaluation of Selected Hockey Equipment Tested according to EN TS15256: Protective Clothing—Hand, Arm, Leg, Genital, and Neck Protectors for Use in Ice Hockey—Protectors for Players Other than Goalkeepers—Requirements and Test Methods

Bishop, Patrick J.
Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

(Received 28 May 2009; accepted 20 March 2009)

Abstract

Several randomly selected models of three types of protective equipment for ice hockey, protective cups, shoulder pads, and shin pads, were tested according to CEN/TS 15256. Three of the nine models of genital protectors, three of the four models of shoulder pads, and four of the fifteen models of shin pads exceeded the threshold limits defined in the Technical Specification. However, these results were not well correlated with injury data to these regions of the body as provided by Hockey Canada. It would appear that the test protocols stated in TS 15256 are not reflective of the reality of the game of ice hockey and if used are likely to drive very adequately functioning equipment from the hockey market. Substantial changes to the test methods must be considered as standards and technical specifications, or both, for personal protective equipment for ice hockey are developed.

Keywords:
hockey equipment, personal protective equipment, equipment standards

Paper ID: JAI101898
DOI: 10.1520/JAI101898
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