Puck impact response of ice hockey face masks.

A sample of new ice hockey face masks was struck over the nose or eye of a headform by pucks shot at velocities of 11-39 m/s (25-87 m.p.h.). Deformation of the masks was studied from high speed film. Acceleration pulses transmitted to the center of gravity of the headform were recorded. Peak accelerations never exceeded 86 G's and were well below reported concussion thresholds (200 G's). The film showed contact of the mask or puck with the face …