# Erish & Aira — hockey helmet + required gear (26 Oct 2026)

Ages today: **Erish 6y 10m** (b. 2019-12-23), **Aira 5y 1m** (b. 2021-09-06).

## Rule first — the certification decision is made for you
Hockey Canada Playing Rule 3.6:

- Helmet must be **CSA-certified**, and a **CSA-certified facial protector must be securely attached and not
  altered**. Any alteration voids the certification.
- **HECC stickers are irrelevant in Canada.** Hockey Canada's own notice is explicit: the HECC date on a helmet
  relates only to HECC's certification term, HECC is mandated for USA Hockey, and "the HECC certification sticker
  does not apply in Canada." There is **no expiry on CSA certification** — the year on the CSA sticker is the
  year of manufacture. Consequence: do not pass over a perfectly good CSA helmet because an HECC sticker looks
  stale, and do not buy an import that is HECC-only.
- **Face protector type matters by age.** "Full facial protector intended for a person 10 years old or younger
  who is not a goaltender" = **Type B2 or 2, orange CSA sticker**. Both kids need the orange B2 cage, not a B1/white
  one and not a visor.
- **BNQ-certified neck guard is mandatory** for players registered in minor and female hockey (Rule 3.6(3)).
  Separately, since **1 Aug 2024** every player and official under 18 in North America must wear cut-resistant
  neck protection at every game and practice.
- **Mouthguard is not required at this age.** Hockey Canada does not mandate a mouthpiece in any age
  classification where a full-face mask is required (it is required only for a junior-age player wearing a visor).
  Buy one only if the club asks or the kids will tolerate it.

**Practical rule: buy a helmet/cage combo, not a helmet and a cage separately.** The cage brackets, J-clips and
chin cup are matched to the shell, and a combo ships with the right CSA-certified cage already fitted. For both
kids the cage must be a **B2 / orange** full-face protector — the CCM FM 70 cage that comes on the Tacks 70 combo
is certified B2 in Youth and Junior sizes.

## Sizing — measure, then pick the size band
| Brand / model | Size | Head circumference | Age guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCM Tacks 70 | **Youth** | 49.0 – 53.5 cm (6 1/8 – 6 3/4 hat) | 3 – 7 yrs |
| CCM Tacks 70 | Junior | 52.5 – 57 cm | ~8+ |
| CCM Tacks 310 | Junior (one size) | 49.5 – 53.5 cm | — |
| Bauer Prodigy / M10 / TH20 | Youth | 48 – 52 cm (18.8 – 20.4") | ~3 – 6 |
| Bauer IMS 11.0 | X-Small | 50 – 54 cm | — |
| Generic junior range | Junior S | 50 – 55 cm | 8 – 11 |

Measure around the head 2 cm above the eyebrows, at the widest point, with the tape snug. Do it twice per child.
Then: **under 52 cm = Youth; 52-53.5 cm = Youth top of band (Tacks 70) or Junior bottom; over 53.5 cm = Junior.**
Erish at 6y10m sits on that boundary and is the one at real risk of being sold a Youth that is already too small
— if he measures 53 cm or more, buy Junior (52.5-57 cm) even though the age label says otherwise. A helmet must
not rock forward over the eyebrows or lift off the forehead when the chin strap is fastened.

## What to buy, with today's GTA prices
| Item | Product | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet + cage combo | **CCM Tacks 70 Youth Combo** (FM70 silver cage) | **$89.99** | CSA + HECC + CE, 49-53.5 cm, tool-free FlipClip; SportChek / Pro Hockey Life / Houle / TheHockeyShop all at $89.99 |
| Helmet + cage combo (Junior) | CCM Tacks 70 Junior Combo | $89.99 | 52.5-57 cm if Erish measures 53 cm+ |
| Helmet only (budget) | Bauer Prodigy 2.0 Youth | $59.99 (sale, reg. higher) | CSA/HECC/CE, 48-52 cm — cage sold separately, so only cheaper if a cage is already owned |
| Neck guard | **Bauer NLP7 Core Youth** (BNQ/CE) | **$13.99** | 26-35 cm neck; CCM 600 BNQ youth $16.99, CCM 900 jr $29.99 if a longer cut-resistant bib is wanted |
| Mouthguard (optional at this age) | Shock Doctor Pro Youth / UA Gameday Armour Youth | $11.99 / $19.99 | only if the club asks |

**Per kid, required gear only: $89.99 + $13.99 = $103.98. Both kids: $207.96 before tax, $234.99 with 13% HST.**
Add two mouthguards and it becomes $231.94 / $262.09.

Not priced here because they depend on what is already in the house or on the team's colour: skates, shin pads,
hockey pants, shoulder pads, elbows, gloves, jock/jill, socks, stick, practice jersey, bag. If the club supplies
jerseys only, a full starter kit runs roughly $250-$400 per child new — the used market (Play It Again Sports,
Marketplace) is where that gets cut in half, but **never buy a used helmet** (unknown impact history, and the
liner is the protection).

## Where the money is actually lost
1. Buying a HECC-only or CE-only helmet online because it says "hockey helmet". Not legal under Hockey Canada.
2. Buying a Youth helmet for a 53 cm head because it is in stock. Wrong size is the injury risk, not the age band.
3. Buying a helmet and cage separately — the cage may not index to that shell and the CSA pairing is broken.
4. Skipping the BNQ neck guard: it is a rule, and officials can report it.

## Checklist for the store trip
- Tape measure, and both kids.
- Confirm the **CSA sticker** is present on the shell and visible, and the cage has the **orange B2** sticker.
- Confirm the neck guard says **BNQ**.
- Try on with a thin beanie off — no hair bun, no thick hat.
- Write both names inside the helmets (Tacks 70 ships with personalization stickers).

Sources: Hockey Canada Rule Book 3.6 and Hockey Canada's CSA-certification reminder (HECC not applicable in
Canada, no CSA expiry); Hockey Canada parent FAQ equipment list; Bauer's under-18 cut-resistant mandate notice
(effective 1 Aug 2024); CCM/Houle/TheHockeyShop product data (Tacks 70 combo $89.99, CSA/HECC/CE, 49-53.5 cm);
Bauer/Pure Hockey sizing charts; SportsZoneCanada Bauer NLP7 youth neck guard $13.99 BNQ/CE; Pro Hockey Life
mouthguard pricing.