Advisory

2007-112
August 31, 2007
For immediate release

Health Canada Advises Canadians to Stop Using WJD PRO Ice Hockey Goaltender Helmets and WJD PRO "CAT EYE" Face Protectors

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians to immediately stop using all WJD Pro ice hockey goaltender helmets and WJD Pro "Cat Eye" face protectors supplied with these helmets due to the potential for serious head or eye injury.

Following an investigation by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), it was determined that these products do not meet CSA standards, as required under the Hazardous Products Act. The WJD Pro goaltender helmets do not provide adequate impact protection in the event of a fall to the ice, collision with another player, or impact from a puck or hockey stick. Their continued use could result in serious injury such as a concussion or other serious head trauma.

WJD Pro goaltender helmets are manufactured and distributed by WJD Pro Inc. of Burlington, Ontario and Jaguar Sports of Caledonia, Ontario. These goaltender helmets were distributed to specialty sporting goods stores across Canada and were also available for sale on-line. They retail for approximately $200.00 to $400.00, and may still be for sale at some stores.

The WJD Pro goaltender helmets bear a CSA-certified ice hockey helmet label with serial numbers 17619 or 17620, yet they do not meet the required safety standards. Some may have counterfeit CSA labels, which are known to have serial number 17619.

The WJD Pro helmets can be identified by the "WJD" letters on the elastic strapping (see Figure 1) or the "WJD" markings on the helmet shell (see Figure 2).

Ice hockey goaltender helmets are usually sold together with the protective wire cage as an assembled unit. In addition to the WJD Pro helmet's lack of impact protection, some goaltender helmets manufactured by WJD Pro Inc. may have been sold with a "Cat Eye" configuration wire cage that does not meet the hockey stick blade penetration test requirements of the CSA standard for face protectors and visors for ice hockey players. As a result, the use of this cage may result in serious eye or facial injury if the hockey blade passes between the grill's wire cage parts (see Figure 2).

To date, Health Canada has not received reports of incidents or injuries related to these goaltender helmets and face protectors. Nevertheless, Health Canada strongly advises the public to stop using WJD Pro helmets and the "Cat Eye" wire cages that were supplied with them. These products should be destroyed. Additionally, while Health Canada is working to have these products removed from sale and distribution, they may still be found in some stores and should not be purchased. Consumers are encouraged to notify Health Canada should they find these hazardous products for sale.

Health Canada recommends that consumers purchase only CSA certified helmets and face protectors. When the face protector is already mounted to the helmet, usually the helmet is marked with CSA labels on its inside surface, or a reference to the following standards: CAN/CSA-Z262.1 (helmets) and CAN/CSA-Z262.2 (face protectors). When the face protector is sold separately in its own package, it will be marked with the CSA monogram and the standard number (CAN/CSA-Z262.2). The face protector's packaging will include either a list of the helmets that it is intended to be used with, or instructional material with this information.

Consumers may consult the CSA website at http://directories.csa-international.org to determine which products are certified by the CSA.

For further information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety office, toll-free, at 1-866-662-0666 toll-free, or e-mail cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca (if contacting via e-mail, please indicate the province or territory from which you are corresponding).

Figure 1. How to identify "WJD Pro" helmets; note not all helmets have the "WJD" markings on the strap. As shown in Figure 2, the helmet shells have "WJD" markings on them.

Figure 2. Hazardous WJD Pro "Cat Eye" wire cage on the left, with large gaps between parts of wire cage; note the difference in gap size when compared to the compliant cage on the right.

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Media Inquiries:
Renée Bergeron
Health Canada
(613)957-2983

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709