'Look-up Line' Helps Hockey Players Avoid Serious Injuries

TWO HARBORS, Minn. - Two Harbors has added a new safety line to its hockey rink with a goal of preventing head and neck injuries."Thought it was a good idea and we didn't see too much downside," said arena manager, Jesse Lundgren. The Two Harbors Hockey Arena is on the cutting edge of hockey safety by painting what it calls a 'look-up line' on the ice. It's a big orange line around the perimeter of the rink to remind players to look up before they hit the boards and possibly become seriously injured. The idea came from the east coast. Two Harbors heard about it and this season pooled together $500 to see if a big orange line really does make a difference in preventing injuries."Just got to keep your head up,” said sophomore hockey player, Trey Fleck. “It's the best thing you can do." When you're just learning to skate the tendency is to look at your feet, and probably take some hard falls. Once you can skate like the ‘big kids’ hockey is not so much about falling, but staying safe during the game. If you step onto Two Harbors' home ice you'll notice the new orange line that usually isn't there."A lot of people are intrigued by it or wondering what it is initially," said Lundgren. The line starts at the boards and goes 40 inches out onto the ice and all the way around the rink. It’s a visual reminder to the players that if they’re getting to close to the boards to look up to avoid injuries. "When it comes to a neck or a back it's not just an injury,” said Fleck, who’s beginning his tenth hockey season. “It could really change your whole entire life in that sense, so it's worth it." For the guys who consider the rink a second home, they're already seeing a difference in how the new line affects their game."I can only see it when I go into the corners and stuff and that's the only time we need it," said Fleck. While skating fast and scoring goals wins the game, hockey players who've got years of experience under the skates and those just lacing up agree safety is the key to the game."In today's world safety is first and foremost,” said Lundgren. “I think the safety of our kids is something that we need to take seriously." For the teams in Two Harbors, adding an orange line is pretty minimal when it comes to keeping their hockey players safe. As of now, Two Harbors is the only rink in the Northland to have a look up line and officials see it as an experiment. At the end of the season, they’ll interview parents, players, coaches, and officials and bring their feedback to USA Hockey.