Anyone ever had any close calls? I really haven't. Wouldn't mind trying some.
I dont know what constitutes a close call, but I've thought about this as I've looked over my gear.
My skates have more than a few marks in them where they've been sliced by skates, some as high as the top of the boot where another inch would have been above the skate. I've had laces sliced in half while playing. I've found my hockey socks sliced open over the shin pad, had it been on the back of the leg could have been a cut. So I guess I've had more than a few potential cuts if had been a little different location.
I run a pro shop, so I guess i have no excuse not to be wearing these, I sell them to parents all the time. I had a high school aged customer that had his achilles cut completely through by a skate. When he was able to skate again, the first purchase was kevlar socks.
We've had a couple incidents where adult leaguers have been cut by skates. Nothing as serious as an achilles, but cut open bad enough to have to call the medics and they got some serious stitching up.
So yes, it happens and cuts in general are not that uncommon, though very serious cuts like achilles are, thankfully, much less.
I'll probably have some of these on the next time I hit the ice. Just doesnt make sense not to.