Updated October 13, 2011
There have been a number of questions regarding the goalie mask marking requirement from both manufacturers and consumers. HECC wishes to clarify the requirement in order to eliminate confusion and undue burdens on manufacturers.
HECC certified goalie masks shall be required to display a marking of HECC Certification, as of June 1, 2011. HECC has decided that the method of marking goalie masks should be left to the discretion of each individual manufacturer so long as the required markings are visible to a referee upon inspection without removing the face mask from the helmet. Examples of acceptable methods of marking the mask include: (1) placing the markings on a plate welded to the face mask, (2) engraving the wires on the face mask, and (3) printing the markings on a sticker permanently affixed to the face mask. These examples are not exhaustive and other methods may be used.
Such marking must include the following:
All manufacturers are required to implement such marking on all products produced on or after June 1, 2011. The HECC. marking shall appear ONLY on HECC certified products. Sanctions will be imposed if any such marking is used on non-certified products. USA Hockey, the National Federation of High Schools, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association have been notified of this marking and referees have been instructed that only masks bearing the marking are HECC certified goalie masks. Please note, however, that the standard HECC eighteen (18) month grace period will apply to goalie mask markings for masks produced prior to June 1, 2011, and players will have eighteen (18) months from the June 1, 2011, implementation date to obtain a certified marked mask.
