Innovation
2025 Make-a-Thon
Getting “hands on” with hockey safety
The 8th annual Rethink the Rink Make-a-thon tackled an essential aspect of player safety: hand protection. Over the course of a week, four student teams designed cutting-edge hockey glove prototypes, pushing the boundaries of material innovation.
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2025-03-10_Rethink the Rink recap video_Covestro.mp4
The Winning Design: Inspired by an Armadillo
The green team's winning prototype was inspired by the physical characteristics of an armadillo.
The Green Team took home the top prize with an innovative glove featuring:
- A flexible notch system that reduced finger stress by 20%
- A semi-rigid wrist cuff providing enhanced protection without sacrificing mobility
- Multi-layered padding strategically placed to absorb and distribute impact forces
- Lightweight, high-durability materials that enhance comfort and longevity
- Enhanced grip texture on the palm to improve stick handling while maintaining protection
“Hand safety is critical in everything we do – in sport, at work, and in daily life. The students’ innovations have the potential to impact not just hockey, but hand safety across industries.”
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Make-a-thon in action:
