Ear covers

[Doctor Hook 0]

I originally took them off my CCM HT500 but noticed a lot of my head was exposed as well as the ear, so I put them back on just to be safe.

Just curious if anyone else takes them off for the "pro" look or do you just leave them be.

[pat19 0]

i have mine out i don't think anything will happen to your ears but maybe i'm wrong.

[Doctor Hook 0]

you can't have ogie oglethorpe as your avatar and then complain that your ears felt unprotected... pussy.

just kidding, i have mine out i don't think anything will happen to your ears but maybe i'm wrong.

LOL, it's Tim "Dr. Hook" McCracken on my avatar. I too have never had anything happen to the ears, but one teammate got in the way of a slapper that rang off his ear guard (he iced it down and was fine, albeit had a ringing), and then of course there's the issue of guys not having the ability to keep their sticks down. I put them on more so to protect the side of my head, which seemed to be more exposed than I originally thought through the earholes.

[tekdawg 0]

I'd keepem... I got hit wit a deflection once when I had them out.. hurt like a bitch... Promptly put them back in...

[Megamandan 0]

Saw a ref got half his ear taken off in an NCAA game once from a puck to the ear. Stitched it back on during periods. Up to a certain point (I think USA hockey and High school) it's required I believe. Your choice though.

[TBLfan 25]

I only take them off if the earguards touch and rub against my ears. But I do like how open it feels when they're gone.

[Chesterfield12 0]

a kid on my team got hit in the ear with the guards ON, and the plastic split and cut his ear in half and off.... 22 stitches and a little plastice surgery later, USA Hockey still makes him wear them, but hes got foam inbetween the guards and his ear now.

[shotblock 0]

I leave mine on. Ive had a few close calls where i was lucky because of ear gaurds.

[Roach 0]

I leave mine on, but I play with someone that used to play NCAA Division 1 that can't stand em and and will not wear a helmet unless they're off.

[tsiarls79 0]

I leave mine on, but I play with someone that used to play NCAA Division 1 that can't stand em and and will not wear a helmet unless they're off.

i take mine off, my ears rub against 'em and they bother me. i also feel that it kinda muffles the sound i hear. just me though, i'm kinda crazy to take 'em out.

[Chadd 916]

I take them out because I'm an adult and I can.

[arrows91 0]

I was wondering about this becasue nearly every player in the NHL takes them out except Malkin and Crosby (there may be more but these are the ones i noticed) Wonder if theres a reason for this?

[Sven 1]

Got rid of them and i like it.

[swede 52]

i take mine off. I sweat less with them off..

[Dante2004 0]

If you league requires you to wear a HECC approved helmet, I believe you have to leave them in.

[sdcopp 1]

If you league requires you to wear a HECC approved helmet, I believe you have to leave them in.

you're also supposed to leave the stickers for "proper" HECC and CSA certs, but no one really does that either.

[TBLfan 25]

I remove the stickers and put them on the inside of the helmet, I'm sure that 85% + of usah refs wouldn't know that's not where the "new ccm helmets put the stickers." :D

[BK 0]

If you league requires you to wear a HECC approved helmet, I believe you have to leave them in.

you're also supposed to leave the stickers for "proper" HECC and CSA certs, but no one really does that either.

Mine does. A buddy of mine put a sticker over his and they wouldn't let him play until he took the sticker off.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

If you league requires you to wear a HECC approved helmet, I believe you have to leave them in.

you're also supposed to leave the stickers for "proper" HECC and CSA certs, but no one really does that either.

It's not the same thing though. Most helmets nowadays are certified. And not having a sticker, while technically illegal, isn't a big deal.

Making modifications to a helmet instantly decertifies it. It was designed and approved for certification based on the unit as a whole, if you remove the earpieces, you are voiding the certification because it was not certified without the earpieces.

It's like making adjustments to a restrictor plate on a car, it can be done, but it can make the car illegal

[mack 44]

The glue on the sticker can compromise the helmet.

[Doctor Hook 0]

I removed the stickers (hate stickers on my helmet) and J clips, which I've read are mandatory/unmandatory depnding on what you read. I just hate how they make the sides of the helmet tighter combined with the cage rubbing against them.

[pody37 3]

I took my ear gurads off this season and i'm liking playing without them. I like the feeling of not having something right next to my ear

[artvandelay 0]

Never played with them when I was a kid through Junior - had them for about a week as an adult till I noticed the damn things so I took them out....can't ever recall anything close to an ear incident (although I'm sure it does happen, but I have other exposed areas as well that I don't consider high-risk)

[Ivan 1]

Anyone has removed them from an RBK 8K? How do you do that? They don't seem to be held by screws but rather by just one rivet.

[Gummer12 134]

It's tricky, You kinda have to push Up, there's a finger that interlaps between the shells.