Hockey columnist Neil Chiplen examines the topics of hits to the head in his latest blog for Sky Sports, the UK-based global network covering sports around the world.  In his commentary on the state of the game, head shots and concussions, Chiplen mentions The Messier Project as an "other means of tackling this hot button topic."

Writes Chiplen: "Stanley Cup winner and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier has taken some form of responsibility for attempting to reduce impact injuries to the head by designing a helmet that seeks to reduce brain injuries - the Concept M11 helmet. Given his credibility and standing within the game, Messier is a natural figurehead for a product such as this and you can sense his motivation for backing a project is deep rooted and personal."

To read the full article, visit:

http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,16729_6458145,00.html.

Back in 1995, the head protection experts at Cascade Sports developed and marketed its first swift water helmet, The Cascade, utilizing the technology it created for lacrosse and adapted it to best meet the needs of swift water rafters and kayakers. A prestigious relationship with the Coast Guard soon followed as Cascade became -- and still is -- the only helmet specified by the U.S. Coast Guard for water rescue.

The helmet makes a cameo in the new film, "My Soul to Take," a thriller by Wes Craven opening in theaters on Oct. 8, during a water rescue scene. You can watch the trailer online at: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2883388953/.

There has been some great coverage of The Messier Project's new role as the Official Helmet Supplier of the North American Hockey League and Mark's visit to the 2010 NAHL Showcase last week.

Mark spoke with Michael Russo, hockey writer for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, while in town and Michael has previewed his upcoming article via his Russo's Rants blog at the Star-Tribune website.  To view the post, visit:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/blogs/103009294.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUgOy9cP3DieyckcUsI.

Russo has been covering The Messier Project for quite some time, especially with Brent Burns of the Minnesota Wild wearing the helmet and the Minnesota hockey community's strong support of the M11 helmet.  Here' s a link to an earlier article by Russo about the Wild's Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who has been testing the M11 helmet in training camp: http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/blogs/102396134.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7h_47cQiU47cQUU.

Let's Play Hockey magazine, Minnesota's top hockey publication, also covered The Messier Project's NAHL announcement and Mark's visit to the 2010 NAHL Showcase in Blaine.  To read LPH's coverage, visit http://www.letsplayhockey.com/2010nahlshowcaseMessier.html.  The LPH article was picked up and also ran in the American Junior Hockey Journal: http://www.americanjuniorhockey.com/2010/09/mark-messier-to-visit-nahl-showcase.html.

The Amarillo Globe-News also wrote about Mark's visit to the 2010 NAHL Showcase as Amarillo's Bulls were are a part of Messier's ceremonial puck drop.  The article can be found at: http://amarillo.com/sports/local-pro-sports/2010-09-15/bulls-ready-make-history.

In celebration of The Messier Project's new role as the Official Helmet Supplier of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), Mark Messier and Mary-Kay Messier visited the 2010 NAHL Showcase event in Blaine, MN last week.  At the event, Messier and NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld net with media to discuss the new partnership and Mark dropped the puck at the Michigan Warriors v. Amarillo Bulls game on Wednesday.  Here are some photos from Mark's visit to Blaine:

Mark Messier and NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld drop the puck at the start of the Michigan v. Amarillo game at the 2010 NAHL Showcase event in Blaine, MN last week.

During a joint press event to formally announce The Messier Project's new partnership with the North American Hockey League, Mark Messier, Mary-Kay Messier and NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld pose for photographers at the 2010 NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN.

Mark Messier and NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld take in a game at the 2010 NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN.

The Messier Project and the North American Hockey League (NAHL) today announced that The Messier Project has been named the Official Helmet Supplier of the NAHL.

To celebrate the new partnership, Mark Messier made a special appearance at the 2010 NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN today.  Messier dropped the puck at the start of the Michigan Warriors v. Amarillo Bulls tournament game this morning and met with Minnesota media.

As part of the new, three-year agreement, The Messier Project will outfit 22 NAHL teams – including the Warriors and Bulls, as well as the St. Louis Bandits (MO), Texas Tornado (TX), Chicago Hitmen (IL), Alaska Avalanche (AK), Motor City Metal Jackets (MI), Alexandria Blizzard (MN) and Owatonna Express (MN) – in the revolutionary M11 helmet for the 2010-11 season and all 26 League teams for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

The Messier Project will engage the hockey community – from players and parents to fans – by activating its new partnership with the NAHL at the 2010 NAHL Showcase event, which continues through Sept. 18, with numerous on-the-ground efforts in Blaine, MN, including a head protection educational session for League coaches; The Messier Project will also activate around its onsite booth and offer interactive consumer promotions.

“The support of the NAHL, one of the most respected hockey programs in the United States, means a lot to us here at The Messier Project,” said six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier.  “We are proud to start this new relationship with the NAHL and wish the teams much success at the 2010 NAHL Showcase.”

In celebration of The Messier Project’s new partnership with the NAHL, and in recognition of the young players who are leading the charge in an important effort to protect themselves and the great game of hockey, the inaugural Messier Project Leader of the Year Award will be presented to one NAHL player at the end of the 2010-11 season who exemplifies strong leadership both on and off the ice.

“A primary mission of The Messier Project is to engage the game’s greatest influencers to help change priorities within the sport and make head protection a top priority,” said Mary-Kay Messier, Vice President of Business Development and the General Manager of Hockey for Cascade Sports.  “To have the NAHL represent The Messier Project – and wear the M11 – will go a long way towards accomplishing our mission.”

The NAHL joins more than 250 associations and teams, including the Harvard Crimson, and National Hockey League stars such as Brent Burns, Chris Phillips, Garnet Exelby, and Stephane Veilleux, in choosing the M11 – the revolutionary hockey helmet featuring Cascade Sports’ Seven Technology – and  encouraging better head protection across all levels of the sport.

“Our players’ safety has always been a top priority and our partnership with Cascade Sports and The Messier Project only re-enforces that commitment,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.  “Not only does Cascade deliver a top-of-the-line helmet with a visionary mission, it’s backed by an enthusiastic management team and support staff dedicated to the health and growth of hockey.”

During the 2009-10 NAHL season, both the St. Louis Bandits and Texas Tornado teams were outfitted in the M11 helmet; Mark Messier’s son, Lyon, played in the NAHL as a member of the Texas Tornado team from 2005-07 and played professionally in the ECHL during the 2009-10 season.

Writer Peter Bronski featured The Messier Project in his in-depth article on "the dangerous world of sports and head injuries -- and how we can make it safer" in the September issue of Denver Magazine.

The feature focuses on high school athletes with an emphasis on football; in the article's coverage of the "concussion epidemic" in hockey, The Messier Project is credited for its work to try to "finally change" the traditionally "laissez-faire attitude surrounding concussions."

The city of Denver and the state of Colorado have shown great support for The Messier Project, with the teams of the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey Association and Rocky Mountain Renegades Youth Hockey Association all wearing the M11 helmet.

To read the piece online, visit: http://www.denvermagazine.com/September-2010/Head-Games/.

Nolan Nicholas (Thunder Bay, ON) of HNO Hockey

Nick Baptiste (Ottawa, ON) of ODHA Hockey

Adam Brady (Delhi, ON) of ALLIANCE Hockey

Joel Horodziejczyk (Sudbury, ON) of NOHA Hockey

Darnell Nurse (Hamilton, ON) of GTHL Hockey

Alex Yuill (Wellington, ON) of OMHA Hockey

Congratulations to Adam Brady (Delhi, ON) of ALLIANCE Hockey, Joel Horodziejczyk (Sudbury, ON) of NOHA Hockey, Alex Yuill (Wellington, ON) of OMHA Hockey, Darnell Nurse (Hamilton, ON) of GTHL Hockey, Nolan Nicholas (Thunder Bay, ON) of HNO Hockey and Nick Baptiste (Ottawa, ON) of ODHA Hockey, the recipients of the inaugural Messier Project Leadership Award in recognition of their strong leadership both on and off the ice at the OHF U-16 Prospects Event.

The players were presented with their award during a special on-ice program on the final day of the tournament in Kitchener last weekend.

“We are extremely proud of Adam, Joel, Alex, Darnell, Nolan and Nick – and of all the players who participated in the recent OHF U-16 Top Prospects Event in Kitchener – and congratulate these six young men on winning the first-ever The Messier Project Leadership Award at the OHF U-16 Top Prospects Event,” said six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier.  “These players lead by example both on and off the ice and are important ambassadors for our great game of hockey.”

The Messier Project served as the Official Helmet Sponsor of the recent OHF U-16 Top Prospects Event, August 12-15, in Kitchener, Ontario, which served as the Team Ontario selection tournament for the 2011 Canada Games.

As part of the agreement, the ALLIANCE Hockey Under-16 team joined The Messier Project and wore the revolutionary M11 helmet during the event.  The Messier Project is supplying the team with custom M11 helmets for the 2010-11 Alliance season.

Congratulations to all the players who participated in the exciting tournament and to the OMHA team on their gold medal win.

The Messier Project is excited to announce that it will serve as the Official Helmet Sponsor of the upcoming OHF U-16 Top Prospects Event, August 12-15, in Kitchener, Ontario.

As part of the agreement, the ALLIANCE Hockey Under-16 team has joined The Messier Project and will wear the revolutionary M11 helmet during the event.  The Messier Project is supplying the team with custom M11 helmets for the 2010 U-16 Top Prospects Event and the 2010-11 Alliance season; the 2010 U-16 Top Prospects Event will serve as the Team Ontario selection tournament for 2011 Canada Games.

The Alliance join more than 250 teams, including the Harvard Crimson, and National Hockey League stars such as Chris Phillips, Garnet Exelby, Aaron Ward, Stephane Veilleux and Brent Burns, in choosing the M11 – the revolutionary hockey helmet featuring Cascade Sports’ Seven Technology – and  encouraging better head protection across all levels of the sport.

In celebration of The Messier Project’s new partnership with OHF U-16 Prospects Event and the ALLIANCE, and in recognition of the young players who exemplify strong leadership on and off the ice, the inaugural Messier Project Leadership Award will be presented to one player from each of the six teams competing in the U-16 Prospects Event during a special on-ice program following each game on the final day of the tournament.

“A primary mission of The Messier Project is to engage the game’s greatest influencers to help change priorities within the sport and make head protection a top priority,” said Mary-Kay Messier, Vice President of Business Development and the General Manager of Hockey for Cascade Sports.  “The opportunity to recognize outstanding leadership and have the Alliance team represent The Messier Project – and wear the M11 – will go a long way towards accomplishing our mission.”

The Messier Project will engage the hockey community – from players and parents to fans – by activating its sponsorship of the U-16 Prospects Event with numerous on-the-ground efforts in Kitchener, via its onsite booth and interactive consumer promotions.

“We are extremely proud to join The Messier Project and believe strongly in its mission to better protect the players of the great game of hockey,” said Tony Foresi, ALLIANCE Hockey President.  “Our players are excited to wear the new helmet and continue to lead by example both on and off the ice.”

“The support of ALLIANCE Hockey, one of the most respected minor hockey programs in Canada, means a lot to us here at The Messier Project,” said six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier.  “We are proud to start this new relationship with The ALLIANCE and wish the team much success at the U-16 Top Prospects Event.”