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Heads-up report reveals unsafe hockey helmets

Virginia Polytechnic Institute report indicates over a quarter of helmets don’t do a good job protecting against concussions.

YOUR KID plays hockey, so you shell out a little extra and buy a quality helmet to protect his or her noggin.

Good idea, right?

Yes and no.

Any helmet is better than none at all. But, according to a report, over a quarter of the headgear worn by hockey players don't do a good job of protecting against the risk of concussions.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported yesterday that researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute will release their findings today after testing 32 helmets that received certification from the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC).

According to the report, the NCAA, USA Hockey and the NHL all use HECC helmets (the NHL goes further, also requiring certification from the Canadian Standards Association).

The helmets included many popular brands, including Bauer and CCM/Reebok.

The study produced a rating system - five stars being the best - based on a helmet's ability to reduce the risk of concussion. Only one of the 32 received three stars. Nine received no stars and were deemed "not recommended." The rest got one or two stars.

According to the study, players using the zero-star helmets - one of which cost nearly $100 - run the risk of at least six concussions per season.

Name that tune

There was a reason El Salvador's soccer players looked confused during the playing of the national anthem before a friendly against Argentina at FedEx field in Washington on Saturday night.

Someone played the wrong song.

The Salvadorians, looking puzzled as another anthem played, eventually took the hands off their hearts and, well . . . just stood there.

As you might expect, some fans immediately took to Twitter, writing that the gaffe was disrespectful, when it was actually only an honest mistake.