neck protectors

[cause4alarm 7]

When I was a kid, I had this Vic neck protector. It was a flexible collar-shaped rib that was wrapped in foam padding. I don't know if the outer shell was woven from cut-resistant thread, but I doubt it. My brother had one of a similar design made by Cooper, I think.

I noticed that every neck protector I've seen nowadays are just strips of cut-resistant fabric without an inner insert. Do they still make neck protectors with stuff inside them?

[LkptTiger 1]

The thinner ones nowadays aren't made-up of anything much more than a couple strips of kevlar and some velcro. There are some thicker models available, but mostly just "fluffed" out; no real inserts to speak of.

[Tyler B 0]

neck guards are possibly my most hated mandatory equipment for minor hockey. but yeha there isnt that much to them. just cut resistant padding.

[cause4alarm 7]

I don't see myself going back to wearing a neck protector, but if I were to get one, I'd at least want one with an insert to provide that extra .002% protection.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Can't have inserts - you want the neck protector to stop the blade. If a skate blade were to hit the hard neckguard, it would deflect.

[wickedwrister 0]

For those of you too young to remember Clint Malarchuk. Here is great reason.

[Law Goalie 147]

And that is why I always wear a Maltese Gel Combo whether I'm in net or skating out. That and my compression short/jock rig are constants.

[cougarkiller98 0]

I'm not sure, but I think Blueliner27 might have some good info to give you.

[Zac911 317]

guys- the old school neck guard may be hated, but the new Mission and Itech shirts are great. i dislike change just as much as anybody, so before i can sell product i have to use it before i go out on the road with it. after one or two skates you dont even know its there-- in fact it's comfortable since the shirt is a performance anti-microbial wicking material. people forget that the purpose of the neck guard is to protect against cuts-- NOT IMPACTS. the rate at which your heart pumps while playing hockey is pretty high and it would not take long to bleed out if cut in the right place. the Mission and Itech shirts have Kevlar in the neck and are very comfortable. in fact the Itech has Kevlar in the wrists as well ( Dan Boyle anyone? remember Donald Audette? ). sorry for the plug as i sell the stuff, but i do use it as well. Mission Itech has comitted heavily to this category and are the only ones that have performance shirts with Kevlar in them.

BTW-- with the purchase of a Fuel or Vhex stick Mission is giving away a Mission performance shirt- promo runs untill the end of Oct.

[pisani34 10]

guys- the old school neck guard may be hated, but the new Mission and Itech shirts are great. i dislike change just as much as anybody, so before i can sell product i have to use it before i go out on the road with it. after one or two skates you dont even know its there-- in fact it's comfortable since the shirt is a performance anti-microbial wicking material. people forget that the purpose of the neck guard is to protect against cuts-- NOT IMPACTS. the rate at which your heart pumps while playing hockey is pretty high and it would not take long to bleed out if cut in the right place. the Mission and Itech shirts have Kevlar in the neck and are very comfortable. in fact the Itech has Kevlar in the wrists as well ( Dan Boyle anyone? remember Donald Audette? ). sorry for the plug as i sell the stuff, but i do use it as well. Mission Itech has comitted heavily to this category and are the only ones that have performance shirts with Kevlar in them.

BTW-- with the purchase of a Fuel or Vhex stick Mission is giving away a Mission performance shirt- promo runs untill the end of Oct.

i had to get myself a new wicking undershirt, so while i was at it i decided to pick up one of the itech long sleeves with the kevlar neck band. It doesn't bother me once you get used to it, and it does provide a little peace of mind, especially after watching that video...on the other hand, i can totally see how majority of players would not enjoy wearing a shirt like this, but for people that can handle it, its not too shabby

[cause4alarm 7]

Can't have inserts - you want the neck protector to stop the blade. If a skate blade were to hit the hard neckguard, it would deflect.

When was this discovered and when did they redesign protectors to exclude the insert?

[davis 0]

I know I've never even had one with an insert before. I remember the 2 that I had (both were made by DR) was just the cut-resistant fabric. Only 2-3 guys in my league used the ones with the inserts, they were pretty rare around these parts.

[cause4alarm 7]

Of course, nobody wants to get cut near the jugular, but I'm probably more freaked out by impact injuries.

Recall Trent McCleary:

McCleary's career was tragically cut short after a freak incident during a home game on January 29, 2000, in which he was accidentally struck in the throat by a flying puck shot by Philadelphia Flyers Chris Therien after McCleary attempted to block the shot. The injury caused his throat to immediately collapse making it difficult to breathe. Several surgeries were required before he could regain his speech. He now has a 15% narrower air passage due to a partially paralyzed left vocal cord and scar tissue on the cricoid cartilage in his throat.

[wickedwrister 0]

Can't have inserts - you want the neck protector to stop the blade. If a skate blade were to hit the hard neckguard, it would deflect.

When was this discovered and when did they redesign protectors to exclude the insert?

My son has been playing for almost 7 years and his first never had an insert.

[Zac911 317]

Of course, nobody wants to get cut near the jugular, but I'm probably more freaked out by impact injuries.

Recall Trent McCleary:

McCleary's career was tragically cut short after a freak incident during a home game on January 29, 2000, in which he was accidentally struck in the throat by a flying puck shot by Philadelphia Flyers Chris Therien after McCleary attempted to block the shot. The injury caused his throat to immediately collapse making it difficult to breathe. Several surgeries were required before he could regain his speech. He now has a 15% narrower air passage due to a partially paralyzed left vocal cord and scar tissue on the cricoid cartilage in his throat.

if you are blocking shots like Trent blocked you may be taking hockey a bit too seriously ( unless you are getting a paycheck ). you may notice that guys in the NHL now dont shoot as much when a guy lays out like Trent did. they generally wait for the guy to slide by or move around the stretched out player. for two reasons- human life is more inportant than hockey and the the whole point is to get a shot through from your guy on the point. that said i do see more bonehead plays in beer league than anywhere else- that is why i dont block shots and i dont go in the corners with careless people i dont know- its not worth it.

[pisani34 10]

coming from a soccer background i could never figure out why players would go down to block a shot laying across the ice, but not protect themselves. Soccer players, when building a wall on a free kick are known to cover their family jewels with their hands....so is there something im missing here in hockey or is it possible to just put on of your arms (top arm) in front of your neck/face? or do people not do it because it might look "wimpy"

[pantherfan 0]

Soccer players do that because if they stop the ball intentionally with their arms its handball so they act they have a pair of balls to protect and put their hands there.

[cause4alarm 7]

Soccer players do that because if they stop the ball intentionally with their arms its handball so they act they have a pair of balls to protect and put their hands there.

Uh oh. Them's fightin' words. [moves drink away from table]

[LkptTiger 1]

if you are blocking shots like Trent blocked you may be taking hockey a bit too seriously ( unless you are getting a paycheck ).

That all depends on what level you're playing at. AAA players don't get paid. Junior players aren't on any kind of salary (there's a stipend, sure, but that doesn't really count for much). College players don't make anything (besides a free education), either. Still, most guys at these levels 1) know how to and 2) will block a shot when the occasion calls for it. Just because the old men playing beer-league hockey "have to get up and go to work in the morning" doesn't mean that no one outside the professional ranks should care enough to get his ass in the shooting lanes.

[Zac911 317]

if you are blocking shots like Trent blocked you may be taking hockey a bit too seriously ( unless you are getting a paycheck ).

That all depends on what level you're playing at. AAA players don't get paid. Junior players aren't on any kind of salary (there's a stipend, sure, but that doesn't really count for much). College players don't make anything (besides a free education), either. Still, most guys at these levels 1) know how to and 2) will block a shot when the occasion calls for it. Just because the old men playing beer-league hockey "have to get up and go to work in the morning" doesn't mean that no one outside the professional ranks should care enough to get his ass in the shooting lanes.

relax bud. i'm not as old as you think, but thanx kid. i think you missed the point. i dont mind a good scrap- i do mind a stick in face/teeth/eyes. the point is BE SMART.

[LkptTiger 1]

I got your point - "if you're not getting paid, it's not worth the effort."

[TBLfan 25]

I see plenty of guys cover their face when sliding to block a shot. I personally try to block the shot while on my feet... I'd probably drop into the butterfly if I didn't try to force myself to kick the shot to the boards or stop it in my feet. I've been forcing myself to stay in position and stay on my feet since I busted out the full splits to block a shot one of my first times skating out in a rec league game... Completely took me out of the play because it takes too long to recover.

[cougarkiller98 0]

What size goalie pads do you wear??? Thats some intense rec league play. Go Team!

[DCott 0]

I don't think he's a goalie...haha

[TBLfan 25]

What size goalie pads do you wear??? Thats some intense rec league play. Go Team!

35+2 but I'm not a goalie anymore.