Bushpilot From South Africa, joined Jul 2007, 0 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 years 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 934 times:
Hi Folks,
Just reading about Koivu and his eye injury and there have been others with serious eye and face injuries. Is it time for the NHL to mandate at least half shields?
I for myself, have had teeth knocked out by a stick and a puck playing without a helmet on, but playing as a kid once you are used to wearing a cage you see right through it and visibility is not an issue.
I am surprised the owners havent mandated it to be honest, the amount of facial injuries are high, even if a player misses the rest of the game for stiches, it is an easily preventable injury.
That being said, to take the other side of the issue, how would it change the game? Less fighting? Definatly less pretty boys to show off thier mugs.
USPIT10L From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 3266 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 928 times:
Quoting Bushpilot (Thread starter): Hi Folks,
Just reading about Koivu and his eye injury and there have been others with serious eye and face injuries. Is it time for the NHL to mandate at least half shields?
I for myself, have had teeth knocked out by a stick and a puck playing without a helmet on, but playing as a kid once you are used to wearing a cage you see right through it and visibility is not an issue.
I am surprised the owners havent mandated it to be honest, the amount of facial injuries are high, even if a player misses the rest of the game for stiches, it is an easily preventable injury.
That being said, to take the other side of the issue, how would it change the game? Less fighting? Definatly less pretty boys to show off thier mugs.
It's been discussed at length with the players' union, especially after Berard went blind in one eye after clipped by a Senator's stick in 2000. Can't remember the Sens player who did it. The NHLPA voted on it and it stayed optional. Hey, at least the helmets have been mandatory for a little over 25 years now. Took only 80 years to make that rule official.
IAH777 From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 0 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 weeks ago) and read 927 times:
Perhaps. But WNBA players should, if only for aesthetics.
Houston ain't exactly Hockey Central, but do Yankees and Cannucks consider the toothless look manly? I think it looks bumpkinish. But, I've read that helmets aren't popular, despite being mandated by the league. One would think it would be mandated by common sense, but once you've been knocked in the skull by a small, dense object hurtling over 100 mph.......
Bushpilot From South Africa, joined Jul 2007, 0 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 weeks ago) and read 914 times:
Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 1): Hey, at least the helmets have been mandatory for a little over 25 years now. Took only 80 years to make that rule official.
I cant understand the folks who played goalie back in the days before helmets, even the old Gary Cheevers style, it rung the goalies bell anytime there were hit in the head, mostly prevented cuts and thats all.
I watch the college game often, and the pro game even more, I see the pros flinch when a stick comes up during the play. In college those guys seem to skate through any of that. It does effect the game. That being said, I think the NHL is much improved this year.
YeahitsK From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 908 times:
They absolutely should wear visors as a bare minimum. Until the NHL mandates this, you will always have the tough guy holdouts. It's not just the high sticks or the flying pucks, but this is a game wear the players wear knives on their feet- bad things can and do happen to unprotected areas.
As much as I love hockey and the hitting, I am a bit squeamish and I hate to see the eye injuries which could have otherwise been prevented.
Players argue that the masks or visors inhibit their ability to play the game, or they can't see the ice as well. I don't buy that for two reasons, the first being that during their development as a player through college and juniors they wear full face protection. Didn't seem to hurt them there. Also, players that come back to play while nurturing facial injuries are sometimes required to wear a visor as doctor's orders. They get used to it after a few games. I just don't understand why they would risk their careers if they don't have to.
The only difference is that we wouldn't see the 4 minute high sticking minor, so it wouldn't take away anything offensively as the 2 minute penalty would still be there.
Jutes85 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 897 times:
These players are all aware of the risks, and in the end it should be their decision. What happened to Koivu is not something that happens very often, well, not often enough to warrant the league to make visors maditory.
I would also like to mention that Koivu does infact wear a visor and did so when the injury happened, so this was not preventable, its part of the game.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 888 times:
Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 1): Hey, at least the helmets have been mandatory for a little over 25 years now.
It's mandatory for all on-ice officials starting next season. So Kerry Fraser's hair helmet will be no more........
Visors should be mandatory, although even a visor won't be much help if someone's stick gets under it. I doubt the face cages NCAA players wear will ever be used in the pro levels.
YeahitsK From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 883 times:
Quoting Jutes85 (Reply 5): I would also like to mention that Koivu does infact wear a visor and did so when the injury happened, so this was not preventable, its part of the game.
There is always the possiblity of sticks/pucks getting up underneath. We only hear about it when someone gets one of these injuries, I'd be interested to know how many have been prevented recently by players wearing visors.
Garnetpalmetto From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5244 posts, RR: 55 Reply 9, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 874 times:
Quoting YOWza (Reply 6): I think it will eventually be a requirement.
It already is in some of the minor leagues - the ECHL and UHL already mandate them, I'm surprised the AHL hasn't mandated it too.
South Carolina - too small to be its own country, too big to be a mental asylum.
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 868 times:
As somebody already pointed out maybe ugly players should have to wear cages or tinted visors so we don't have to look at them. I always get a chuckle out of the following.
ScarletHarlot From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 4673 posts, RR: 59 Reply 11, posted (7 years 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 841 times:
It should totally be mandatory. The toothless look is absolutely disgusting. Mr. Harlot plays hockey and he wears a full face mask. I have told him that if he ever has permanent facial or tooth damage due to playing hockey, we would be reevaluating his participation in the league. Fortunately, with the full face mask, a facial or mouth injury is unlikely.
A total face mask is a little extreme. I don't want to see my favourite players faces hidden behind a bird cage.
These players are payed enough that they can afford plastic teeth, and are aware of the risks. Not wearing the full face shield makes for a better on-ice product, and that is what the NHL is all about.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 13, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 810 times:
Helmets, visors, and cages are for sissies. Bring back the old days.
Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 1): at least the helmets have been mandatory for a little over 25 years now.
I don't believe so. Who was the old Oiler and NY Ranger who didn't wear a helmet until he retired in the late 90s or early 2000s? Big old goofy looking guy that played with Gretsky but I just can't remember his name right now.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
Jutes85 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 807 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 13): I don't believe so. Who was the old Oiler and NY Ranger who didn't wear a helmet until he retired in the late 90s or early 2000s? Big old goofy looking guy that played with Gretsky but I just can't remember his name right now.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 15, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 802 times:
That's him. Thanks! And I'm just kidding with the sissy remark. That said, we can't hold the hands of professional athletes the entire time. If they don't want to wear them than that is their choice. If they get hurt that is their choice to deal with as well.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
Airwave From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 1117 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 795 times:
Quoting YeahitsK (Reply 4): They absolutely should wear visors as a bare minimum.
I think this is the best compromise. The clear visors wouldn't impede a player's view and they do protect the nose, eyes and the face from frontal impacts. Mouth guards work there as well. Granted, sticks and the odd deflected puck will come up from under, but I don't think we'll ever see full cages.
Quoting Srbmod (Reply 7): It's mandatory for all on-ice officials starting next season. So Kerry Fraser's hair helmet will be no more........
Or refs like good ol' Mick McGeough who skate around helmetless and embellish every penalty call motion. You know, I can't imagine what he'll look like with a helmet...
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 15): If they get hurt that is their choice to deal with as well.
Yeah, but usually paid for by their team through insurance. So in a sense, it really is in everybody's best interest.
Airwave
When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
YeahitsK From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (7 years 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 790 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 15): That said, we can't hold the hands of professional athletes the entire time. If they don't want to wear them than that is their choice. If they get hurt that is their choice to deal with as well.
I agree with what you are saying in principle, but hockey is a business that they are trying to market to the masses right now and it seems like they are having some success based on attendance this past season. Horrific but preventable injuries make the news and turn people off to the game and perpetuate the image of hockey as a violent sport where a bunch of numbskulls don't have the common sense to protect themselves. Although it does happen, how often do you see severe, blood-gushing, eye injuries in other professional sports? Although I personally love hockey for the physical play, if the NHL wants to have an image of acceptable entertainment, I would expect some of these traditions to go by the wayside. That unfortunately includes fighting as well. I really think they are going to take the game in a more family oriented direction. They don't want people sitting in the stands with their kids and saying, "oh look junior, there's teeth and a retina on the ice after your favorite player just blocked that shot with his face!"
As a fan of the game, I would like for it to have a wider appeal, but I would like some elements to remain like fighting, or being able to see the player's faces. I agree with Airwave that the visor is a reasonable compromise and should be mandatory. Fans should support it too, too many good players with seasons/ careers shortened by this stuff.
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