Hockey Helmets

The sport of ice hockey, like any other, has humble beginnings. In its over one hundred year history, the sport has evolved quite a bit. It used to include a nine-player team whose goal was to keep the puck inside of the rink, which did not have boards yet, so that it would not hit spectators, and score on six foot wide goalposts. The rules hadn’t been fully established yet, and these humble players did not see a need for protection other than the clothes they wore to keep off the cold. Hockey helmets were not considered a necessity and would not be for quite a few years.

Now the sport has become much more than its founders could possibly have imagined, and changed in ways they might never have dreamed of. Of course, that meant that the kind of protection worn during on-ice gameplay needed to change as well. Head, scalp, and face injuries were the most common in the sport of ice hockey, leading those who developed equipment for the sport to work on a way to prevent this. Many lacerations to the upper body and concussions later, George Owen became the first player to wear a hockey helmet regularly for the purpose of protecting his head during the games. However, it was surprisingly not until August 1979 that the NHL president announced to the players that ice hockey helmets would be mandatory within the NHL.

Having become one of the quickest and most exciting sports an athlete can join, the game has evolved to a point where protection is no longer an option; it is now necessary to preserve the safety of the players so that the fun doesn’t end abruptly. And now, not only do manufacturers create helmets designed to protect a player during the game, they also create them to help him or her play even better.

They have evolved from the flimsy caps they used to be into custom-fit helmets that are often built to exceed safety standards set up by the game’s leadership, and don’t even slide or slip during game play. Trusted ice hockey helmet manufacturers such as Reebok, Bauer, and CCM have begun creating helmets that are light and that keep their players’ heads as cool as is possible during even the most strenuous part of their games.

These wonderful pieces of equipment come in many different styles, shapes, and sizes so that the ice hockey players can find the one best suited for their age, size, and skill level. Players should ask their ice hockey coach or store professional for suggestions on which helmet is best suited to protect their all important noggins during on-ice play. Remember: safety first, so that the on-ice fun doesn’t have to end!

Check Out all the In-Stock Helmets From These Great Manufacturers: