Kim Crouch Collar
The article is about a piece of equipment hockey neck guard to be worn by hockey players to protect themselves from neck injuries. Kim crouch collar takes its name from hockey player Kim Crouch after whose neck injury, the collar was designed.
Following a disastrous neck injury Ed Crouch, Kim Crouch’s father designed a prototype hockey neck guard for him to help him return to the game. However, later on, the guard was widely adopted by hockey players due to its effectiveness. Especially the players of ice-skating sports such as hockey, bandy, ringette, and rinkball wear it to save themselves from fatal neck injuries. This is specially designed for ice skating to protect from potential injuries that could be caused by pucks, sticks, and Saket blades during practice or even the match.
Features of Hockey Neck Gaurd
- Kevlar which is a strong and cut-resistant material, is used to effectively guard the neck but it is at the same time lightweight and comfortable for the neck to wear.
- It has been designed in the bib-style or wrap-around belt-like to properly cover the neck. Some of its designs also spread across the upper chest area to safeguard the area from injury.
- Some of the designs have extra padding to make them more shock and injury-resistant.
- It is designed to protect the neck but it is made sure to make it snug, and flexible which allows flexible movement of the neck without making breathing and head movement difficult.
- The added feature of the hockey neck guard absorbs sweat during the game to keep players dry and comfortable.
Available Designs
There are three most popular designs for the hockey neck guard.
- The first design is bib-style it not only covers the neck but also extends to the upper chest area to protect it from injuries.
- The second design is collar-style, it wraps around the neck like a collar focusing on the safeguarding of the neck area all around.
- The third model of hockey neck guard is the integrated guard. In this model, the neck guard is attached to the undershirt to make it more comfortable and to ensure additional coverage of complete check from injuries and risks.
Tips and Tricks to Maintenance
It is not high-maintenance equipment, however a care and thorough cleaning could ensure its longevity.
- The first trick is to clean it regularly to increase its life. Every manufacturer makes sure that the instructions regarding the cleanliness of the product are mentioned with the product. So is the case with hockey neck guards, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to keep them hygienic and protect them from damage.
- It requires regular and meticulous care to check it for damages before you wear it for the game. A damaged guard would do no good to you rather it might mislead you to an uncalled-for fatal neck injury.it is advised to immediately replace the damaged piece to ensure optimum neck protection.
- To increase its longevity and to ensure its maintenance, always store the hockey neck guard in a dry and cool place. Otherwise, there is a probability that its material to suffer damage even while sitting in the cabinet. Check the Website to read more articles.
Popular Manufacturers of Hockey Neck Gaurd
Many manufacturers who make sports equipment manufacture them but here’s a list of the recommended brands to be considered for purchasing high-quality neck guards.
- Bauer
- CCM
- Aegis
- Interceptor
- Shock Doctor
It is highly recommended to wear an appropriate hockey neck guard to prevent severe injuries, cuts from skate blades, attacks from pucks, and sticks for optimum self-protection.
