The face saving hockey mask

ANDREW GORRIE/ The Dominion Post

SELF-PRESERVATION: Annabel Goslin wears the face protector she designed after suffering a broken nose and broken eye socket.

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Annabel Goslin was temporarily blinded after a hockey ball hit her in the face – now she wants to make sure no-one else suffers the same fate.

The 22-year-old Massey University design student has fashioned a protective mask to protect vulnerable defenders. Miss Goslin plans to pitch her design to companies in the hope of reducing the numbers of injuries.

Her prototype is being displayed as part of BLOW 09, the university's annual creative arts festival. Also featured is a stool that converts into a makeshift shelter for trampers.

Miss Goslin suffered a broken eye socket, a broken nose, two black eyes and blindness for a week in 2005 after a ball hit her in the face.

"I was in a tournament and I was participating in a penalty corner when the girl taking the shot undercut it right into my face.

"I had a ball coming up, and a piano exam as well, so it really came at the wrong moment."

She had to practise for her exam without seeing the keys, and attended the dance with blurred vision. Since then, Miss Goslin has seen at least five other players in her team suffer eye-socket injuries and she decided to do something about it.

While other face masks are already on the market, she says hers has an advantage because it has extra features like a detachable sweat lining and extra holes to provide ventilation.

Hockey injuries cost ACC more than $9.5 million in the past five years, from more than 1600 claims.

Miss Goslin's classmate Caitlin Begg also wants to keep people safe.

Inspired by reports of people dying in New Zealand's back country, the 21-year-old designed a stool for trampers stuck in the bush.

When the bench's seal is broken, it can fold out into a bed and has poles that can be pulled up to form a tent to provide shelter.

The creative arts festival began in Wellington yesterday and runs until November 21.

It includes displays, performances, workshops and lectures.