Hockey is an exciting sport to watch especially when played outdoors. There’s a reason why it’s called “winter sport” as the game literally stops whenever there’s snow or ice on the ground. It requires a lot of physical activity and a fair amount of head protection is necessary to prevent injuries. Different leagues around the world also have different rules and regulations when it comes to the type of helmet players are allowed to wear. In this article, we will discuss the most commonly used sizes in the NHL and internationally as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each one.
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NHL Size Guidelines
The National Hockey League (NHL) have their own guidelines regarding the size of hockey helmets. Their rules state that:
- The protective headwear must be fitted snugly on the head with a minimum of 1.8 inches (45mm) of free movement.
- No part of the helmet may extend beyond the top of the head.
- The top of the helmet must cover the whole area from just behind the ears to the base of the neck. If it covers part of the ear, it cannot meet the safety requirements.
- The protective headwear must have a rear impact diffuser for protection against flying debris.
- The front part of the helmet must be flat for deflecting the oncoming balls. If it has a peak, it cannot meet the safety requirements.
- The outer surface of the helmet must be made of a material that is less likely to peel away.
- The entire helmet shell must be constructed of a lightweight material that is durable and flexible enough to protect the head in a collision.
- Maximum weight allowance is 200 grams (7 oz)
- The chin strap must be constructed of a textile material, and no other materials may be used.
NHL Small
The smallest size in the league is designated as small and is roughly equivalent to the size used by players in the junior hockey leagues. This size fits snugly on the head with a minimum of 1.8 inches (45mm) of free movement and has a smaller peak than the average helmet. This size also has a flexible strap and an adjustable chin cup.
The advantage of this size is that it fits most adults and even some teens comfortably. It’s also lightweight and durable enough to prevent damage in a collision. The major drawback of this size is that it doesn’t provide the full coverage necessary to meet the safety standards set by the NHL.
NHL Medium
The medium size in the NHL is bigger than the small size and has a peak 3.5 inches (89mm) high. It fits snugly on the head with a minimum of 3 inches (76mm) of free movement. Since this is the standard size used by the NHL, it’s available in a variety of shapes and styles including some which have a flexible strap and adjustable chin cup.
The medium size in the NHL offers protection against minor to major collisions as well as flying debris. The advantage of this size is that it provides better protection than the small size and is more durable. The major drawback of this size is that it’s not as comfortable as the smaller one.
NHL Large
The large size in the NHL is similar to the medium size but has a higher peak which is 4 inches (102mm) high. It fits snugly on the head with a minimum of 4 inches (102mm) of free movement. This is the most frequently used size in the league and beyond. It’s available in a variety of styles including some which have a flexible strap and adjustable chin cup.
The large size in the NHL provides better protection than the medium size and is more durable. The advantage of this size is that it provides even more room for movement than the medium size. The drawback of this size is that it’s not as comfortable as the smaller one and is thickest where it covers the ears and forehead. It also becomes more difficult to breathe when worn.
Around The World In Eighty Books
To celebrate the release of The Marvelous Mrs. Mallard, a parody of “Around The World In Eighty Books,” we’re reviewing books that take us on an adventure around the world. If you’ve read our first book, you already know that we love mysteries and adventure stories. Let’s see how well this selection does.
We’ll begin in Victoria, which is the capital of British Columbia and home to Queen Victoria. It was originally named New York after the British Crown settled there in 1847. The 1848 Winter Olympic Games were also held there. Today, most people would probably confuse it with Atlanta since that’s the most popular city in the South and many businesses there operate year-round. In Canada, Victoria is often considered part of Greater Toronto, which is why you’ll often see “Toronto” and “Victoria” used interchangeably. (It’s also why most of the street signs are in both English and French!)
The first novel we’ll review is called The Mystery of the Disappearing Books by Agatha Raisin and was first published in 1999. To be perfectly honest, we were a bit skeptical going into this one since we’ve never been to Victoria and don’t even think it would exist if we had. The book starts out in England, where Agatha lives, and then continues on to Australia, where the bulk of the action takes place. Victoria is mentioned only once in the entire book. If you go there, you’ll miss your flight because the airport closes at 4 pm, on the half hours and the whole hours.
As the name would suggest, the mystery in this book revolves around the disappearance of books. Fortunately, Agatha’s sleuthing gets her one step closer to solving the case and brings her face-to-face with an old adversary. The old books have been replaced by new ones which appear to have been copied from old volumes, although Agatha is unable to prove this. The real villain of the piece is Sir Marcus Flint, an unscrupulous bookseller who wants to boost his sales by destroying valuable books.
Like all the books we’ve covered so far, this one is written in the first person narrative format and is told from the point of view of the amateur detective Agatha Raisin. The stories are extremely funny thus making it ideal family reading (and since it’s about a mystery, there are plenty of cliffhangers along the way). Agatha is a thorn in the side of the wicked bookseller Flint, who wants to destroy all the evidence that could identify him as the mastermind behind a huge book scam. As a result of Flint’s devious plan, Raisin ends up losing her detective’s license due to too many accidental deaths related to the case. What a terrible injustice!
The next book we’ll review is called Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie and was first published in 1935. The titular river flows through the middle of the country of Egypt and is famous for its annual flooding. The story begins in Britain with the body of Peter Wimsey being washed up on the river bank. We soon learn that Wimsey, a retired colonel, has traveled to Egypt to spend some time with his daughter Jane and son-in-law Rex Maudesley. The two have just returned from a cruise on the river earlier that same day and found the body when they got back to shore. The family friend and retired police inspector Melrose begins the investigation and determines that foul play was definitely involved. It isn’t long before the murderer is found and revealed to be none other than Jane’s ex-fiancee Gregory.
Gregory was a teacher at the prestigious Beardsley College who was fired after several students committed suicide. To make matters worse, he was also found sexually harassing a young woman named Enid. The police investigation turned up several compromising photographs of Gregory and he was sentenced to death by hanging.
The body of Gregory was then buried in an unmarked grave, where it remained for forty years before being exhumed in order to identify the deceased through DNA testing. It was during the investigation that the case became suspiciously similar to that of the famous Jack the Ripper murders in 1888, which inspired the book. Like many of the other books we’ve covered so far, this one is another whodunit and Agatha Christie masterfully blends fact and fiction to create a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The author died in 1976 at the age of 86 and is one of the most prolific and successful authors of all time, having published 37 novels and over 90 short stories as well as three plays and numerous collections of essays and poetry. In 2014, she was named the greatest novelist of all time by the British Library.