Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Releases First Independent Safety Ratings for Youth Hockey Helmets

Key Takeaways

• Virginia Tech Helmet Lab tested 33 youth hockey helmets, awarding 10 helmets a five-star rating and six a four-star rating
• The ratings address a market of approximately 800,000 youth players in the United States and Canada combined
• Parents of youth hockey players drove demand after showing strong interest in the lab’s 2015 adult hockey helmet ratings
• The Hockey Equipment Certification Council remains the only widely used benchmark, certifying helmets meet ASTM standards without performance-based ratings
• Youth hockey helmets represent the 13th sport or industry-specific headgear rated by the lab since its launch 15 years ago

Independent Performance Data Enters Youth Hockey Market

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released its first ratings for youth hockey helmets on December 16, providing parents and program operators with performance-based safety data for 33 helmets currently on the market. The lab applied its STAR (Summation of Tests for Analysis of Risk) framework to award ratings from zero to five stars based on impact protection.

“It includes every helmet we could get our hands on, including some that are no longer being manufactured but that players might still be wearing,” said Steve Rowson, the lab’s director and a professor of biomedical engineering. “The goal is simply to provide moms and dads and other stakeholders in the youth hockey community an independent resource so they can make an informed decision and purchase a helmet in the context of impact protection.”

The complete list of rated helmets, including advertised retail prices, is available at the Helmet Lab’s webpage.

Market Demand and Player Population Drive Research

The lab’s decision to test youth hockey helmets came directly from market response to its 2015 adult hockey helmet ratings. Rowson noted that parents of youth players showed the strongest interest in those varsity ratings, signaling clear demand for youth-specific data.

The youth hockey market substantially exceeds the adult player population. According to USA Hockey and Hockey Canada, approximately 800,000 youth players participate in the United States and Canada. The International Ice Hockey Federation reports an additional 275,000 players throughout Europe.

Testing Methodology Adapted for Youth Players

Virginia Tech researchers leveraged existing literature on impact exposures in youth hockey and utilized equipment from previous youth football helmet testing, including a youth-sized test dummy. The testing protocol accounts for lower impact energies associated with youth play compared to adult hockey.

Currently, the Hockey Equipment Certification Council provides the only widely used benchmark for hockey helmets. The council certifies that helmets meet American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards but does not produce performance-based ratings that compare helmet protection levels.

Broader Context for Safety Equipment Standards

The youth hockey helmet ratings continue the lab’s 15-year track record of developing independent consumer guides that double as development roadmaps for manufacturers. This summer, the lab updated ratings for bicycle, varsity football, and youth football helmets in response to measurable safety performance improvements in those categories.

Rowson emphasized that while the research aims to help individuals select better headgear, the ratings also encourage helmet manufacturers and sports organizations to prioritize safer product development.

via: News VT

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