Actually, Karhu (Jofa, Koho, Canadien, Titan and Heaton) no longer provide the 235 to hockey players and have asked Gretzky to stop wearing it(personal knowledge and a Sports Illustrated article from last year), in fact several years ago they would not provide him with one for the all star game and in a silent protest he wore a CCM helmet and turtleneck. Liability, liability, liability ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: [2] Helmets Author: [log in to unmask] at Internet-USA Date: 2/10/99 10:32 AM Feb 10, 1999, at 9:23 AM, John Knight wrote: <snip> Although my son (7 years old) will not wear a Jofa helmet because of the way it looks (a friend who works for them wanted to take him to a sales meeting at age five to prove the point that it looks goofy) it is indeed one of the safest helmets made. Lets not confuse the uncertified broomball helmet that Gretzky wears with the other well made Jofa hockey helmets. Despite their looks most trainers I know feel it is one of the better helmets made. It looks goofy because it is safer...lower coverage in the rear, full ear coverage, no protruding edges. Jofa is and continues to be a leader in innovative safe equipment. According to experts, the Jofa 366 or 390 worn by Jagr has five-eighths of an inch of padding. Measure that to the 235 Gretsky wears, and there is no comparison. In the NHL players do not have to wear a CSA approved helmet or a HECC approved helmet as they do in high school and the youth ranks. If a player, over 21 is buying the helmet, I'm not sure safety is even a factor. And that's when it needs to be even more of a factor if he's playing at a competitive level. Most NHL players get their equipment straight from the manufacturers. So, if Mc Soreley and Gretsky want a 235 that's what they get, despite the fact they are no longer made. According to Westwood Sports in Bloomington, MN, Jofa is coming out with a new helmet in May with more of a conventional style not a bubble look which most players don't like. Every retailer will tell you something different about which is the best helmet. They buy what they sell. In the same way, every manufacturer will tell you his helmet is the best. Most players wear the CCM or the Bauer cause of looks. Westwood says the new Jofas are by far the better helmet. When the new conventional styled Jofa comes out in May it will be interesting to see if it becomes more popular because of a change in styling! My son wears, I think a Cooper that hardly fits his head! Not sure if they still make that style!? (-: Vicki Price violentcontact.net Concussion Free Zone HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.