Player Killed in Edmonton (puck to the throat)

[lere2001 0]

What makes you think so? Not disputing this - just wondering.

It was a fairly hard slap shot, the kid who took the shot has always been known to have a quality shot, so I know that he can shoot it hard, and he did. Kyle was also only a metre away (1.09 yards for those who want to relate this to a football field). I just think that a protective neck guard would have not been enough to stop something that hard, from that close of a range. For anyone curious, he went down to block the shot during the wind up, slid too far past the player, took the shot to the neck, stood up grabbing his neck, took off his helmet, and collapsed on the ice. I dont think the results would have been much different at all had he been wearing another brand of more protective neck guard.

[Philip Maltese 0]

A bit late on this, because I haven't had a computer the last while, but I knew Kyle, and I know the kid who took the slapshot. In my opinion, this is just a complete accident that is almost impossible to avoid. He was a metre away from the shot. I think that whether or not he was wearing a more protective neck guard, the results would have probably been the same. In my opinion, I would like it if higher end neck guards such as the Maltese neck guard mentioned earlier made it to local store shelves, as an option for everyone, but I do not think it needs to be mandated in leagues. Just my two cents on the issue.

(By the way, for all wondering, it was the artery in his neck that burst that caused his death.)

Thank you for adding that information to the conversation 'Lere'.

[ktang 34]

It was a fairly hard slap shot, the kid who took the shot has always been known to have a quality shot, so I know that he can shoot it hard, and he did. Kyle was also only a metre away (1.09 yards for those who want to relate this to a football field). I just think that a protective neck guard would have not been enough to stop something that hard, from that close of a range. For anyone curious, he went down to block the shot during the wind up, slid too far past the player, took the shot to the neck, stood up grabbing his neck, took off his helmet, and collapsed on the ice. I dont think the results would have been much different at all had he been wearing another brand of more protective neck guard.

I'm also thinking that a neck guard wouldn't have helped, because the forces from the impact would have been dissipated to the neck (lots of vascular structures, and the spinal cord, and the trachea there).

Maybe something attached to the shoulder pads would have helped deflect, dissipate, or safely absorb the impact.

Woulda-coulda-shoulda - there was an article recently published about shot blocking, and how the gloves should cover the family jewels and the throat / face.

RIP Kyle.

[ArrogantOwl 7]

Maybe a dangler from the helmet like in lacrosse?

[ktang 34]

Maybe a dangler from the helmet like in lacrosse?

I think that could work too, because on impact some of the force would be deflected to the shoulder pads / sternum / clavicles.

[Chadd 916]

Maybe a dangler from the helmet like in lacrosse?

Maybe not laying down to block shots?

[ArrogantOwl 7]

Maybe not laying down to block shots?

That's a given, no one should be sliding into shots at those levels, but from my personal experience, getting hit with a lacrosse ball with the throat guard has only left me with some pain.

[Philip Maltese 0]

I'm also thinking that a neck guard wouldn't have helped, because the forces from the impact would have been dissipated to the neck (lots of vascular structures, and the spinal cord, and the trachea there).

Based on my thirteen years of protecting throats with gel, I disagree. If I need to post all the testimonies of goalies that have been struck in the throat by direct shots, deflections, sticks...whatever, I'll do it. But please don't make broad statements regarding situations you have no practical experience with.

In my estimation, there's a chance that my neck protection would have garnered the same result, but there's a greater chance that Kyle may have only been slightly injured if he was wearing my product. I seriously doubt death would have been the outcome. And whomever wrote that unless my throat protection could withstand a shot from Chara, is asinine. What equipment today is being held to that standard? Helmets? Can't be, as concussions are all the rage. Now goalie masks are suspect in the protection department. The padding makes all the difference when it comes to head protection. Manufacturers use EPP foam as their helmet padding foundation. This is the wrong application for this material. It belongs in motorcycle helmets and bumpers of cars, but not in hockey helmets. If it were all that special, then you'd see it in football helmets, but no foot ball manufacturer in their right mind uses that crap. Trust me, they do not have your best interest at heart, they have theirs.

[Katzenjammer 1]

The padding makes all the difference when it comes to head protection. Manufacturers use EPP foam as their helmet padding foundation. This is the wrong application for this material. It belongs in motorcycle helmets and bumpers of cars, but not in hockey helmets. If it were all that special, then you'd see it in football helmets, but no foot ball manufacturer in their right mind uses that crap. Trust me, they do not have your best interest at heart, they have theirs.

Thanks for your post Philip. In your opinion, what's the best helmet padding for hockey?

[Philip Maltese 0]

It reads like a 'loaded' question, but I'll state the obvious...gel.

But let's start with the helmet itself. I think plastic helmets for a chaotic and violent sport such as hockey, is the wrong material and I think the design of the helmet could use an update.

[Axxion89 32]

And whomever wrote that unless my throat protection could withstand a shot from Chara, is asinine. What equipment today is being held to that standard?

Um, never said that any equipment was held to that standard, said that no equipment out there could stop a force like his shot and that any piece of neck equipment could not save you from that type of impact...you probably should re-read what I wrote

[L.F.O.D. 0]

Not much to add. Just a R.I.P. and thoughts go out to the family.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382391