From Ken Haas, Atlantic District Risk Manager for USA Hockey:

As a Risk Manager, one sentence in the attached memorandum from Colorado caught my attention.  While the attached memorandum is not the subject of this e-mail to you, the sentence that caught my eye is that about proper equipment:

The standard insurance coverage will be considered to be in effect as long as the injured participant was wearing the proper protective equipment as mandated by the organization (HC or USA Hockey) with which he/she is registered. 

The purpose for this is to direct you to our playing rules on proper equipment.  I am in a rink just about ever evening and frequently I see kids practicing with their team wearing only Helmet and gloves.  As stated in the above sentence, failure to wear the "proper protective equipment" may void our insurance coverages should that person get injured.

I asked one coach why a player was practicing without the proper equipment.  His response surprised me.  He said because the player was injured.  Not only should an injured player not be permitted to practice, allowing him to do so without proper equipment exposes that Club to 'gross negligence' - that is negligence that is willful and intentional.  Insurance policies do not cover gross negligence and any such claims would have to be paid by the Club.

 Please refer to USA Hockey Playing Rule 304 a:

(Note) Not all protective equipment is mandatory in all age classifications. However, if not mandated by rule, USA Hockey strongly recommends that all players and goalkeepers in all age classifications properly wear an internal mouthpiece, a HECC approved helmet and a HECC approved full facemask for all games and practices.

Each player is personally responsible to wear protective equipment for all games, warm-ups and practices. Such equipment should include gloves, shin pads, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hip pads or padded hockey pants, protective cup, tendon pads plus all head protective equipment as required by USA Hockey rules. It is recommended that all protective equipment be designed specifically for ice hockey.

All protective equipment, except gloves, padded hockey pants, helmet/facemask and goalkeeper’s leg guards, must be worn under the uniform. 

Therefore, I ask you to advise your Club members that it is poor judgment allowing players to skate in practice without the proper protective equipment and it may in fact void the insurance policy.