U.S. and Canadian health and safety agencies have issued a joint recall of Bauer hockey goalie masks with cages that have broken and caused serious eye injuries.
In March 2015, Health Canada, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Bauer Hockey Corp. issued a joint recall of three Bauer goalie masks and cages after the sporting-goods company determined there may be a quality issue in some of the titanium wire used in the manufacture of the cages, CBC News reports. The affected goalie masks and cages do not provide adequate protection in the event of impact from a puck and could pose a hazard to the user, such as a facial injury.
At the time of the March recall, Bauer had received a report of the titanium wire cage cracking or breaking on impact with a puck, resulting in minor facial injuries. Health Canada has now updated the recall to say that it has received two reports of serious injuries related to use of the products. Bauer has now received 11 reports —10 in Canada and one in the United States — of breaks or cracks that resulted in four minor and two major facial injuries.
Goaltender Riley Akerman, 18, of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, underwent emergency eye surgery after a five-centimeter piece of wire snapped off the cage and traveled into his face, slicing across his nose and into his left eye, cutting off a small piece of the iris, CBC News reports.
The recall involves about 1,300 units sold in Canada and about 1,200 units sold in the United States between April 2013 and February 2015. The following masks and cages were recalled:
- Bauer Concept C1 Goal Mask with Certified Titanium Oval Wire
- Bauer NME 10 Goal Mask with Certified Titanium Oval Wire
- Bauer RP NME Ti Titanium Cage
The recalled products were manufactured in Thailand and China.
This recall involves cages on the Concept C1 Goal Mask with Certified Titanium Oval Wire and the NME 10 Goal Mask with Certified Titanium Oval Wire, and the RP NME Ti Titanium Replacement Cage. The Concept C1 and NME 10 goalie masks were sold in black or white with a titanium wire cage that attaches to the mask with two screws on each side of the mask. The Concept C1 mask is a Senior mask in sizes S/M and M/L. Concept C1 is printed at the top of the shell. A sticker inside the shell at the jaw also lists the model and size. The NME 10 Goal Mask is a Senior mask in sizes Fit 1, Fit 2, and Fit 3. NME10 is printed at the top of the shell. A sticker inside the shell at the jaw also lists the model and size. The RP NME Ti Titanium Cage is a replacement cage intended for the Concept C1 and NME 10 goalie masks. A side plate reads Bauer Titanium Oval Wire and RPNME Ti Sr.
The CPSC advises that consumers should immediately stop using the recalled goalie masks and replacement wires and contact Bauer Hockey for a free replacement wire cage and complimentary throat protector.