- Feb 14, 2008
- 37,418
- 1,744
The coaches and athletic directors in my high school league just voted unanimously to mandate that we wear neck guards during games. How does it feel playing with one? What do I have to get used to?
Neck guard mandate
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frito
Registered User
Good for them for mandating it. It may be uncomfortable the first game or two but I honestly don't think you'll notice it much. My kids both wear them as do I. I started wearing mine again after the Zednik incident. I was expecting it to be very uncomfortable at first but honestly didn't even notice it.
+1. I managed to find one big enough for my neck, and have not had any problems. Previously they would come off party through a game, and just hang there, but no more.
There are also the shirts with the built in guard.
noobman
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2007
- 4,640
- 4
It'll be a little uncomfortable in the DR, but once you hit the ice and start thinking about the game... some neckguard discomfort will be the last thing on your mind. Don't put it on too loose, or else it'll spin around. That'll probably annoy you on the ice.
I never go out without a neck guard... they keep you safe, and they keep your neck warm!
I never go out without a neck guard... they keep you safe, and they keep your neck warm!
iceman_88888888
Registered User
- Nov 23, 2005
- 218
- 0
understatement of the century! i used this brand when i was a kid and it was the worst and my parents wouldn't get me a new one cuz it still fit!
neckguards aren't too uncomfortable. get one that fits properly and do it up just tight enough so you can still slip a finger underneath it. at worst, it'll feel like you're wearing a turtleneck. at best, you'll just notice your neck is warmer than usual.
cptjeff
Reprehensible User
Never tried one myself, but a guy on my team got one, put it on and took it right off after warmups due to the discomfort. Not to mention if you have it too tight it restricts the movement of your neck which can cause injuries to the neck or even increase the risks of concussions. A turtleneck or one of the shirts with one built in is probalby the best option.
densetsu
Registered User
As a goalie, I despise neckguards. Whereas a player can skate around and have all that air circulation help cool him off, a goalie sits in his crease and stews in his own sweat under a gigantic chest protector. And where does the majority of the heat and sweat come out, at least in my experience? The neckline. Put a neckguard on a goalie and it's like putting a lid on a boiling pot of water. My endurance went down immediately after trying one on for a couple weeks. I adapted a bit to the extra heat, but as soon as I took it off it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
That said, I do recognize the need for protection against cuts to the neck, so I wholeheartedly endorse the Itech compression shirt with built-in kevlar neckguard: http://www.hockey1.com/product-info.asp?pid=5492. It won't protect against impacts, but for goalies that's the job of the mask and dangler, not the neckguard.
That said, I do recognize the need for protection against cuts to the neck, so I wholeheartedly endorse the Itech compression shirt with built-in kevlar neckguard: http://www.hockey1.com/product-info.asp?pid=5492. It won't protect against impacts, but for goalies that's the job of the mask and dangler, not the neckguard.
MikeD
Registered User
Densetsu, if you want a guard that offers exceptional impact and cut protection as well as a comfort level above any other...you have to give a maltese gel combo a try. It does not retain heat and in fact aids in cooling. It can be frozen and kept chilled on ice prior to a game. I had purchased at least 10 different models, able to stand them for, at most, about 10 minutes. I would take them off and give them away to other goalies at pick up/skate and shoot. Most of the time, my combo will be the first upper body item put on and the last to be removed. You just hardly know its on and there is no adjustment period to getting used to wearing it.
I used to end play in late march because of heat. Now I will play summer hockey primarily becaiuse of its ability to help pull heat out of the CA.
While the cost is significantly higher they are very durably made. Mine is going on 8 or 9 years old and it still looks almost like new. After getting the maltese combo I eliminated the dangler. Took a slapper just under my chin once, directly into the front of my throat. Dropped me to the ice sucking for air for about 30 seconds. Never even went to the bench and the next day no bruise or even soreness. Shot speed estimated at about 70mph. The gel interior attenuates the impact and traps any skate that come in contact with it. A dangler will actually direct a skate (let is slide) into the neck/shoulder area.
Maltese also offers these for the out player, team orders are discounted and come in any choice of colors, each made to the wearers custom measure and also embroidered with name and number. Hight of the collar is also at the wearers choice. Hands down the absolute best available for the goalie or the player.
Ny the way, your ORg is just a few years ahead of USA hockey. The word is that there will be a mandate in place with the next rewrite. Certification will follow those of the Canadian Hockey BNQ requirements. Maltese exceeds these by a factor of 10 in cut protect as well as the impact protection that is NOT part of the BNQ standard.
Combo:
W/ sternum guard added
maltesehockey.com and click on the store button. Gel series....
I used to end play in late march because of heat. Now I will play summer hockey primarily becaiuse of its ability to help pull heat out of the CA.
While the cost is significantly higher they are very durably made. Mine is going on 8 or 9 years old and it still looks almost like new. After getting the maltese combo I eliminated the dangler. Took a slapper just under my chin once, directly into the front of my throat. Dropped me to the ice sucking for air for about 30 seconds. Never even went to the bench and the next day no bruise or even soreness. Shot speed estimated at about 70mph. The gel interior attenuates the impact and traps any skate that come in contact with it. A dangler will actually direct a skate (let is slide) into the neck/shoulder area.
Maltese also offers these for the out player, team orders are discounted and come in any choice of colors, each made to the wearers custom measure and also embroidered with name and number. Hight of the collar is also at the wearers choice. Hands down the absolute best available for the goalie or the player.
Ny the way, your ORg is just a few years ahead of USA hockey. The word is that there will be a mandate in place with the next rewrite. Certification will follow those of the Canadian Hockey BNQ requirements. Maltese exceeds these by a factor of 10 in cut protect as well as the impact protection that is NOT part of the BNQ standard.
Combo:
W/ sternum guard added
maltesehockey.com and click on the store button. Gel series....
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densetsu
Registered User
Mike, where were you? I just asked about heat issues with the maltese on the GSBB... http://www.goaliestore.com/board/equipment-forum/77810-taking-off-dangler-2.html#post1308579 
I'm certainly considering it, though in my mind it'd be strictly for protection against cuts. Even though everyone praises the maltese combos for impact protection, if I took off my dangler and just wore a maltese I'd probably be so nervous about it that it'd affect my game. Just one of those things... you *know* that you're pretty much safe, but it just doesn't feel right.
I almost recommended the maltese collars (http://maltesehockey.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2) in this thread but remembered they aren't BNQ certified. If the league mandates them then they'll probably also require that the neckguards are certified. Don't know why Phil doesn't apply for certification, these suckers are way better than the $20 Itech collars out there. Gel vs. foam aside, maltese are custom-fit to your neck circumference and anything custom-fit is better than one-size-fits-all.
I'm certainly considering it, though in my mind it'd be strictly for protection against cuts. Even though everyone praises the maltese combos for impact protection, if I took off my dangler and just wore a maltese I'd probably be so nervous about it that it'd affect my game. Just one of those things... you *know* that you're pretty much safe, but it just doesn't feel right.
I almost recommended the maltese collars (http://maltesehockey.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2) in this thread but remembered they aren't BNQ certified. If the league mandates them then they'll probably also require that the neckguards are certified. Don't know why Phil doesn't apply for certification, these suckers are way better than the $20 Itech collars out there. Gel vs. foam aside, maltese are custom-fit to your neck circumference and anything custom-fit is better than one-size-fits-all.
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Have worn one every year I've played. Hasn't ever been a proble. Don't buy one that's too tight, thats about all you need to know.
Burlington Bomb 26
Louie Louie Oh oh
only benders wear neckguards.......but everyone has to wear one for HS Hockey as I know. If you see anyone in Juniors wearing neckguards, kids a bender.
XweekendwarriorX
Registered User
not a fan of the neck never have been. if you wear it thats your choice but when i was forced to in high school i just put some sort of sweatband around my neck
Ti-girl
Registered User
While I don't wear one at the moment (for Beer league), I did wear one for...oh...12+ years of minor hockey, and it was never a problem then.
Like someone said, it might be a little uncomfortable in the dressing room, but it was always the last thing on my mind once I hit the ice.
Like I said, I don't wear one, but if I was forced to wear one by league rules, it wouldn't be a problem at all.
Like someone said, it might be a little uncomfortable in the dressing room, but it was always the last thing on my mind once I hit the ice.
Like I said, I don't wear one, but if I was forced to wear one by league rules, it wouldn't be a problem at all.
Stripes
Registered User
- Oct 9, 2007
- 1,185
- 0
Beat me to the punch!
If anybody wears one of these in a Hockey Canada sanctioned game, that player is getting 2 minutes for Illegal Equipment.
Sucks, but that's the rule.
Burlington Bomb 26
Louie Louie Oh oh
densetsu
Registered User
Because the chances of that happening are high......
Notice she didn't specify whether it was skate or stick blade...
As a goalie, I take sticks to the head and neck area all the time (even from my own defencemen!), and it's not uncommon for forwards to lose an edge and slide into me, often feet-first, limbs flailing around.
Skaters can take sticks to the throat at any point in the game, and anytime you're down on the ice (shot blocking, being tripped, etc) you're at risk of taking a skate to the throat.
The Zednik and Malarchuk incidents were freak accidents, but why take the risk when prevention measures are so simple?
That said, it's your life to live, and I'm not trying to force anything on you. Just making a suggestion that, to me, seems like a no-brainer.
cptjeff
Reprehensible User
Because the prevention measures can be very uncomfortable and can cause injuries in much more common incidents. If you wear one that immobilizes your neck, you're at a much more significant rist for concussions and such being checked. Think of it this way: If you lock your neck in place and I take you and slam you headfirst into the boards. Your neck does not move, so your head does not. That restriction of movement forces your head to take all of the force of an impact, which will jostle your brain around more. You also run a higher risk of cracking your skull for the exact same reason.
A stiff guard with plastic inserts and such is a bad idea if you're getting checked or in collisions accidentally. If you're a goalie it's fine.
However, the more flexible ones like the one in the undershirt don't have that risk. But traditional type that most people will probably use is not worth it.
That's the reason though. It prevents a freak accident, but if you choose the wrong type it increases risk in other areas.
Headcoach
Registered User
Ok, the Mlatese neck guard that was shown by MikeD is a goalie neck guard. Maltese also makes a neck guard for forwards that is two inches thick. It runs about $45.00 However, they also have team pricing that will save you a about $10.00 if you all go in as a team. Tell them head coach sent you and they might give you a little break....maybe!
Head coach
MikeD
Registered User
Mike, where were you? I just asked about heat issues with the maltese on the GSBB... http://www.goaliestore.com/board/equipment-forum/77810-taking-off-dangler-2.html#post1308579
Take a look at the banned members list. I have a lifetime ban from the GSBB. Can we say ODB? Besides, way too much garbage to wade thru to get to the good. Some great stuff but also a huge bunch of tools and shills/employees/ posers for the manufacturers.
MikeD
Registered User
Seen them in use and not once have I seen a ref call it. On a few occasions when playing in Canada, refs have actually looked at and held my sons collar and mask(both not certified). they were impressed and turned a blind eye. The maltese collar is better than any BNQ certified on the market or any foam used in a mask or helmet. Any ref who WOULD call it is insane.
as for USA hockey....Many have held the mask, looked at the gel interior. 5 years and NONE have ever called out the illegal gear. The missing sticker means nothing when shown a far superior product.
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MikeD
Registered User
Its not a matter of applying. Its the cost associated with it VS the return on sales. IF I remember correctly, BNQ certification is around $20,000 PER YEAR! what does it guarantee? That with a specific amount of foot lbs, a skate will not cut through the material in a specified number of strokes. Its highway robbery. With out a USA Hockey mandate, it would be foolish to spend 20G to see less than that number in sales return.
Additionally, the driving force with gear has been GO LIGHT. Gel is not light in the hand. It turns some people off the product. Once put on the neck or inside the mask/helmet, its insignificant. I am a firm believer that if every player helmet had the Maltese gel interior or strategically combined with foam, concussion would be a RARE thing rather than common. The product is quite simply that good. It very well may have saved my sons life in a squirt minor game.
For those who use the Junior/Semi and Pro players in reference to the number of incidents that happen, These are the top tier players. They have the highest skill levels. They have the LEAST risk associated with these types of injury. They are much more common place in youth/rec hockey. Its amazing that a players helmet must protect the ear from impact while USA hockey has no mandate for the neck. Another poster above has given the reason why there is no action on this topic. Some types of neck guard available have their own associated risks. Not quite the way its stated in the post but its not important enough to clarify, immobilization of the neck is not achieved by any and therefore not the concern. The important aspect, as a player, is to not select a guard that has hard plastics that will not "trap" a skate or can cause soft tissue injury in a collision. USA Hockey has no standard and refuse to issue a mandate. Looking at Hockey Canada and BNQ requirements, while better than none, are still inadequate. the "wrod on hte street" is that USA will be issueing one in the next rewrite. I sure hope they do but do NOT use BNQ or the certification facilities, currently operating.
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Ti-girl
Registered User
Because the chances of that happening are high......
No, but when you're playing at a lower level, things happen. People lose control of their sticks/skates etc.
My brothers and I all wear neck guards, the Maltese ones. (Thanks Phil!). I've taken quite a few errant sticks to the neck and have never gone down.
Both my brothers wore them all the way up through AAA and one who went to a Dub camp (he decided to go NCAA instead) wore his throughout the whole camp and said that he would "rather look like a wimp than catch something in the throat and get injured."
MikeD
Registered User
Nope, it is a league by league thing. Federation Hockey in NYS does not even require a player to wear gloves! Helmet/HECC is the only mandate. As far as I am aware, over 98% of USA Hockey Sanctioned youth leagues DO require a neck guard. That means that about 160,000 travel players put one on for every game. If you have never worn one, then I would imagine you have never made any travel team. When I see a player with out a neck guard I dont see cool, tough, rugged....I see FOOL!
What are the odds of being struck by lightning? Very slim but do you stand under a tree in a lightning storm anyway? It only takes ONCE to end your life....
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