elbow pads: soft/hard cap, rules

[cause4alarm 7]

1) What are the NHL rules concerning the caps on elbow pads? I believe that they're required to have soft caps, but can someone clarify?

2) Is this rule commonly adopted in other levels of hockey?

3) Are most elbow pads manufactured in compliance to this rule?

[JR Boucicaut 3806]

No hard, exposed plastic.

USA Hockey - no, not sure about the other pro leagues.

No, they are not. Jofa retrofitted their elbows to the soft cap and since damn near everyone in the leagues wears their elbows anyway, it was pretty easy. When I did the NSH training camp (first year of the rule) most players were in the 9177s but some did Vapor 6 and a Bauer prostock donut-style elbow pad (essentially rebranded Cooper).

[cause4alarm 7]

No, they are not. Jofa retrofitted their elbows to the soft cap and since damn near everyone in the leagues wears their elbows anyway, it was pretty easy. When I did the NSH training camp (first year of the rule) most players were in the 9177s but some did Vapor 6 and a Bauer prostock donut-style elbow pad (essentially rebranded Cooper).

Is there a clarification on the definition of "hard" or "exposed" in this case? I ask this in regards to those caps which are just plastic with just fabric stretched over them.

Also, how old is this rule? I've noticed that not too long ago there were still some non-covered capped EPs on the market.

[JR Boucicaut 3806]

Since it doesn't apply to USA Hockey, means that it doesn't apply to the retail market. If every hockey association mandated soft caps, manufacturers wouldn't make hard caps.

Should've added an "and"

Hard "and" exposed plastic.