In the heart of Durham, a small workshop is turning cutting‑edge materials into bespoke protective gear for the Carolina Hurricanes, the NHL team making a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A New Standard in Player Safety
Each piece is engineered to match the exact anatomy of its wearer, eliminating the one‑size‑fits‑all approach that has long plagued professional hockey equipment.
The process begins with detailed scans of a player’s physique, followed by iterative fittings that incorporate feedback from the athletes themselves. This meticulous workflow ensures that every strap, pad and shell aligns with the specific demands of the sport.
Grace Hayba, a local designer who has worked with the team’s equipment staff, has been instrumental in translating those technical requirements into manufacturable designs, blending performance with comfort.
The result is a lineup of gear that not only reduces the risk of injury but also enhances mobility, allowing Hurricanes players to focus on speed and precision during the most critical moments of the season.