Event-specific impact test protocol for ice hockey goaltender masks

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Neurology

Background:

• Ice hockey goaltenders are highly susceptible to concussions from various impacts.
• Existing helmet certification standards, focusing solely on head acceleration from drop tests, may not fully capture real-world injury mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the biomechanical responses of three distinct injury events common in ice hockey goaltenders.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current helmet testing protocols in representing actual concussion-causing scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a helmeted headform (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment - NOCSAE) subjected to impacts simulating three real-world goalie injury events.
• Recorded headform kinematics (linear and rotational acceleration/velocity) and employed the University College Dublin Brain Trauma Model (UCDBTM) to assess brain strain and stress (maximum principal strain - MPS, von Mises stress).

Main Results:

• Each simulated impact event generated unique dynamic responses and distinct brain stress and strain patterns.
• Findings indicate that a single impact scenario (e.g., falls) is inadequate to represent the full spectrum of concussive events experienced by goaltenders.

Conclusions:

• Current helmet testing methodologies may not adequately address the diverse range of impacts leading to concussions in ice hockey goaltenders.
• The study advocates for updated impact assessment protocols that incorporate multiple, varied impact events to enhance the evaluation of goaltender masks and improve player safety.