Arena Netting

Need arena netting? Options for protective hockey rink netting are spelled out and clarified. Understand nylon mesh netting vs. monofilament, color choices, and options to purchase - it's all here.

Why all the talk of hockey netting?

In March 2002, Brittanie Cecil was improbably struck in the neck by a careening hockey puck. Tragically, she died two days later.

Arenas have always worked to ensure spectator safety, though clearly all spectators enter the arena at their own risk. Nevertheless, a few months later after thoroughly reviewing arena layouts and practices, the NHL mandated an additional layer of safety for spectators - the installation of arena netting around all corners and ends of all NHL arenas.

Fortunately we'll never know how many other freak and tragic accidents have been prevented since all NHL arenas implemented the fairly inexpensive installation of nylon mesh netting since 2002.

Might a perimeter net for your hockey rink also be a valuable addition to your public ice skating enterprise or your own backyard ice rink?

What is it worth to not have to chase down hundreds of pucks every month? How nice would it be to not have to fear your family or friends might get drilled accidentally by a puck traveling at blinding speed? Did you build your backyard ice rink such that your bay window is in the direct line of fire??

Arena netting can solve all these problems, and at an amazingly reasonable cost. For a public arena you'll want a professional to install and hang the hockey netting. But in your backyard, if you're handy, you may be able to construct the framework as a DIY project, and then hang the netting with the help of a neighbor or buddy.

About Arena Netting

Arena netting comes in various sizes and styles of construction:

Arena Netting Comes in Various "Breaking Strengths"

• 95 lb, and rope-bound. This is a clear monofilament netting with a low breaking point, meaning it is strong enough for small backyard ice rinks where pre-adolescent children skate and practice.
•  Another option is 110 lb (clear monofilament)
  
  --  One drawback of monofilament line is elasticity - it is more stretchy and harder to work with.
  
  --  On the other hand, whether 95 lb or 110 lb, monofilament may offer more affordability while still offering adequate protection depending on the circumstances.
  
  

• 150 lb nylon mesh netting knotless, in white or black. 150 pounds is the minimum accepted standard strength for installation in NHL rinks.
• 300 lb nylon mesh netting knotless, in white or black. This hockey netting can be had with a rope border or a vinyl border with grommets.
• Other sizes: 120 lb, 155 lb, 180 lb, 360 lb

Arena Netting Comes in Several Colors, With Notable Advantages and Disadvantages

• White: In well-lit rinks, white reflects the light back into the spectators’ eyes. If you want to watch the game, you may be likely to focus first on the netting before training your eyes clearly on the game beyond. This may not be such a big issue in small or not-so-well-lit backyard hockey rinks.
• Black: Black is probably the color of choice for hockey netting, since black tends to simply disappear from sight allowing you to focus on the game or the kids practicing and having fun on your backyard ice rink.
• Clear: Clear hockey rink netting is also reflective - see white above.
• Other: Nylon mesh netting also comes in several other colors, most often used in other sports such as golf and baseball.

If you're interested in obtaining a perimeter net for a public ice arena or a brightly lit backyard hockey rink, your best color choice is black.

Ordering Arena Netting for Your Public or Backyard Ice Rink

Size your rink by measuring the area you wish to protect by the linear foot.

• A common size is 10 foot high netting in various standard lengths.
• Ideally, add extra length to wrap around the corners of your rink. This will keep the puck 'in play' during games and 'in your rink' when shooting from off-angles.
• Other heights are available. Request specific measurements in order to custom fit your netting.

Installation

The netting should adequately protect all spectators in the arena, whether seated or walking, and especially at both ends of the arena alongside the rink boards.

You'll measure by linear foot to know how many feet of arena netting you need to purchase. For height of netting, measure from the top of the glass, or your boards, to a height over which no pucks will sail.

For most home rinks, a 10 foot high netting will actually provide protection up to about 14 feet high, once installed above 4 foot tall dasherboards. Netting in NHL arenas are typically 18-20 feet high.

Inspecting Protective Hockey Rink Netting

Arena netting conforms to certain strengths when new, but time will certainly erode this strength and the resilience of the netting.

Netting that has been UV treated will last considerably longer. Nevertheless, it is wise to conduct periodic tests to ensure that your protective hockey rink netting will keep on doing its job. Be sure to check:

• Tightness/tension of the netting and installation
• Wear, holes, tears, cuts in the perimeter netting
• Connections, cables and clamps to ensure tightness of fittings and stability
• Netting mesh hole size, as time may result in excessive stretching
• Cleanliness to ensure the arena netting is free of dust, grease, and other matter, keeping fire risk to minimum

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