With the start of hockey season right around the corner, some players may be looking for a new helmet.

Hockey helmets are essential for helping to protect users of all ages from serious head injuries, but not all helmets are created equally. Trusted manufacturers work with third-party testing and certification organizations like CSA Group to rigorously test helmets for safety, durability, and effectiveness.

However, some counterfeit helmets have recently been discovered for public sale using forgeries of the CSA label. These helmets have not undergone proper safety standard testing and pose a potential risk to player safety.

CSA Group has set up a dedicated webpage csagroup.org/helmetsafety with resources and materials to help players and hockey families choose a helmet. Remember these other important equipment reminders for the upcoming season.

From the CSA:

When selecting a hockey helmet, check for the round blue and red CSA label usually found on the back of the helmet. This label only appears on helmets that have passed strict tests and meet the requirements of the CAN/CSA-Z262.1 safety standard. Only CSA-certified hockey helmets are approved for use in Hockey Canada sanctioned activities. Below are some tips to help you ensure that your helmet is CSA-certified:

1. Check for the CSA Certification Label: Look for a round, blue and red label on the back of your helmet. These tamper-proof CSA certification labels are applied with special adhesive so they will not peel off easily. A CSA certification label always includes three things: reference to the CSA Z262.1 standard, a serial number and the year the helmet was manufactured. CSA certification is void is the CSA certification label is removed.

2. Buy from Reputable Sellers: Purchase helmets from well-known brands or established retailers. If buying from lesser-known brands, online or second hand, take extra steps to verify the helmet's authenticity.

3. Look for a Booklet/User Manual: New CSA-certified helmets always come with a booklet or user manual. For some helmets, the booklet or users’ instructions may come as a QR code on the packaging, which can be scanned to access the booklet / user manual. If your new helmet doesn't have one of these, take extra steps to confirm its legitimacy.

4. Quality Check: To comply with the Canadian safety standard, a hockey helmet must be well manufactured with high-quality materials and cannot be modified in any way. If a helmet feels unusually light in weight, flimsy, has loose parts, or appears to be modified, some additional steps are recommended, even if the helmet has a CSA label.

5. Verify Online: Whether purchasing new or used, The CSA Group Product Listing provides a convenient list of all CSA-certified products. To verify that your helmet has been certified, enter the name of the helmet model in the Keyword field; enter the manufacturer’s name in the Manufacturer field; and select Recreational Safety Equipment from the Product Area menu.