The first year of the Rethink the Rink initiative focused on redesigning the dasher boards and glass surrounding hockey rinks. As players continue to become bigger, faster, and stronger, the goal was to reduce the impact of players hitting the boards, making the game safer for players of all ages.
Students utilized their creativity and academic skills to tackle this challenge and had access to experts and materials from Covestro, a leading producer of high-tech polymers, to design and develop prototypes for testing. As the teams aimed to minimize injuries among hockey players, they faced an additional requirement: their new rink board designs needed to maintain the traditional puck bounce.
The prototypes were submitted to experts from the NHL and USA Hockey for feedback. The new designs have been installed in the Pittsburgh Penguins' practice rink and are also available through Athletica, the preferred rink equipment supplier for the NHL, AHL, and USA Hockey.
