Real Frisco

The Texas Tornado will be sporting a new helmet when they take the ice against the Topeka RoadRunners this weekend.

The helmet is the M11, a new state-of-the-art helmet designed by Mark Messier created to substantially reduce the risk of concussions in the high-contact sport of hockey.  The helmet is the product of a movement known as the Messier Project.

This act seeks to solve the problem of concussions, referred to as an epidemic in contact sports. The extra protection in the helmets comes from Seven Technology. Seven Technology is a new absorption system that provides the protection of two helmets during an impact all in the space of one helmet. After taking into account the fact that players experiences multiple impacts in hockey, the Seven Technology performs up to 140% better than the conventional foam used in hockey helmets.

Individual players from the NHL and teams throughout the ranks of hockey are continuing to jump on board with the new helmets. The Tornado are currently one of three teams in the NAHL using the M11 and will continue to use the helmets after their debut this weekend.

Since their inception in 1999, the Texas Tornado has set the standard for excellence for junior hockey in the United States.  Besides their three straight National Championships from 2004-2006 the Tornado has won seven NAHL Regular Season Division titles and had seven straight 40+ win seasons from 1999-2007. Their seventh straight division crown in 2007 tied a 30-year NAHL record, and their seven straight 40+ win seasons is an NAHL record.  The Tornado have developed and moved on over 80 players in nine years onto NCAA and professional teams.