To Faceshield or Not To Faceshield?

[SpeedDemon]

Tonight during the Sting/Thunder game, there were a few incidental injuries which resulted in bloody faces and broken teeth. An errant high stick here, a crushing body check there. Nothing intentional but the results were pretty bloody.

I just thought I'd poll the audience. What is your main reason for wearing - or not wearing - a faceshield? If you don't, is there any point which you think you would consider wearing one?

I used to wear a half-shield after breaking my orbital bone during a game. But now I don't because it affects my peripheral vision too much. I don't think I would go back to wearing one unless I was medically forced to.

[rinkrat15]

As you get a bit older you consider it more and more, I'm personally near the end of my career and will play 1 more year of Pro for Team Rink Rat and then hang out in the over 35 division until I cant skate, I just yesterday bought the new Oakley Visor and think I am going to keep it on. I look at guys like Owen Nolan, Berard who had serious damage done " by accident" and I would hate to lose vision near the end of my career...So I am putting it on and we'll see what happens...

The arguement that your not tough if you wear a visor is a bit over the top as well. If you wear a visor and you have to throw down, then be a man and take it off pre fight, Thats all....

Anyhow just one man's opinion

Mike


National Inline manager for Rink Rat wheels.

[showtime89]

Advantages are protection. Disadvantage playing roller hockey was too much heat. If it was ice, different story, but it's just too hot for roller.
I also didn't like the distorted sight line at the bottom of the shield.

[almostheroes]

I agree with Mike and if you can't wear a shield why not a cage. The cage will be vented and allow protection of the eyes and face.

[Db55UD02]

Because there is a stigma associated with wearing a full cage. Yeah, they are the smarter players, but to me, i do think less of a guy who does wear a cage ( someone who probably is reckless and does hit guys in the face with sticks). I for one, wear a shield and hopefully won't be stupid enough to take it off ( unless cj calls me to play with the mudcats, which i wont hold my breath on). The technology is getting so advanced that most shields won't fog up, and it covers one of your most vital senses in your body. There is something to be said about mouthgards as well, as they too, should be made mandatory. I have worn one since I started playing, and will never have to worry about missing my teeth. None of us out here are getting paid enough to look as ugly as keith primeau does after a year of cuts to last a lifetime. GO GROWL/SCRAPPERS

Its not fun until PIHA starts up again....

[showtime89]

Just like when I taught P.E. Kids wanted to wear their hockey helmets with cages for Floor hockey instead of the goggles I made them wear. I told them no because they would see a guy near the wall with a helmet on and hit him because "he was protected" and not taking into consideration that that helmet and cage was a totally safe environment.
If that makes any sense.

[MDE3]

I think a full shield is the smart way to go...there is too much accidental injury possible, and very costly injury if not debilitating..broken teeth etc, not to mention other possible serious damage to the eyes and nose. No one is making money at this ..at least not enough to pay a major medical bill which could result from injuries sustained...and the way HMO's are now looking for excuses not to pay.....well I imagine "not wearing available protection" might just come under the valid excuse heading.

The macho part is very much a big influence among younger players who often want the respect of the veterans they play with, but the potential for damage is not really worth the risk.....and the impaired vision part, while somewhat valid, is not as significant as it's often made out. It's more about respect than vision.

We grew up playing without benefits of helmets or shields - not even the goalies - to really date myself - (for young goalies impaired vison was a real issue with the wrap-around plexiglas shields being all they offered at the time(unless you could pay for a custom molded job)..not only did they have a prismatic effect on the vision, but also fogged up unbelievably to where they were useless) Besides our idols were Sawchuck, Johny Bower, Gump Worsely, and Jacques Plant..although Plant and Sawchuck were suspect when they started wearing the masks..until you caught one in the face. Trust me after a life time of dealing with an impacted sinus from catching a slapshot acroos the cheek and nose, which cracked both and leaves me with sinus infections that wont go away...protection is worth it.

The primary reason shields were not used in the NHL was fighting..in fact full face shields are banned in the league unless prescribed by a doctor to protect a previous injury. Half shields are now optional at the players discretion.

I do understand the macho appeal of no face protection, and grudgingly admire the players who scorn it, but how much is that pride worth?

[BkHdTpShlf]

Me personally I don't like wearing a cage or half shield because they restrict your vision at times. Now of course I'll take the occasional high stick from time to time but if that player has a cage on I get a little heated rather than a player with no cage. I feel the guys wearing cages, not so much half shields, just the guys with the full cage tend to get their sticks up around the face more often. It just seems like the guys with no facial protection are more aware of their stick work and not so reckless knowing they too can get clipped just as easy.

Darrell Interbartolo
Boston Storm Player/Coach (Regg Dunlop)

[MolsonMan]

The bigest factor, in my oppinion, is heat. The fact is that a cage is much warmer than not wearing it. I think the problem is more with the fact that there is a lack of respect for the other players on the floor. There seem to be two kinds of people on the floor:
1.) Players who think they're in the NHL and take cheep shots and wave the stick around with recless disregard.
2.) Players who have to go to work on monday and realize that there is more to life than roller hockey.

Fighting is part of the game, checking, occasional high sticks are all occurances that are likely to happen. It is time for some players to take a reality check. You're not getting paid, there's a reason for that. Don't suck other people into your under-achieving cheep shots. I know emotoions run high, and things happen. I'm not suggesting we all play like wooses. All I'm saying is that if the league cracked down on the *******s who go for the face when they cheep shot, we wouldn't have to discuss cages and shields.
The fact of the matter is, you are going to lose good competition when dirty players cut up better players to knock them out of the game. One guy gets maimed, and he is permanantly scared, and some *censored* has to sit down for 90 seconds. It seems like there is a discontinuity there...

[-venom-]

Just look @ JD ..... he always wears a cage. Took it off @ NARCh and ended up in a hospital...

I used to always wear a half shield, because I was tired of getting broken noses. But then it was too much of a hassle to buy a new one every 2 weeks because it was so scratched up that I couldn't see.

Took it off, got 8 stitches in my forehead 3 days later.

Currently I don't wear one, but I've been thinking of going back to one.

Although I'd have to remember to take off my helmet before a fight, and honestly, punches hurt alot less the next day when they're pounding a helmet.... so I dunno.

[FrankFrank]

I had the unfortunate experience of being the guy that caused a whole league back home to take face protection seriously. I caught one of my best friends right across the eye and nose with a follow through on a shot, and he had to go get stitched up. Right after this, the league made it mandatory to wear face protection. Ever since then, I've been real hesitant to take mine off. I agree though, they do get Real hot as opposed to not having one on. And I also agree with the whole wussy look that it brings to the table... but on the same hand, when it's me blocking shots and getting in the corners, I'd much rather have my cage on to protect what little good looks I have.

In addition, my girlfriend did a very interesting graduate research paper on the pro's and con's on wearing face protection. In a majority of cases that were listed, there were actually more serious injuries that occured when a person wore a half or full shield because of it being jarred loose and being shoved back into your face, throat, etc.

If you want to protect yourself, More power to you. But don't be the stereotype and hide behind the cage and start trouble. That's one thing I've learned through the years when wearing one.

Frank~Frank
Tour Typhoon & Pottstown Firebirds

[-venom-]

Nothing pisses me off more than someone with a cage trying to act tough...

I usually just end up hurting my hand punching the cage :(

[MlrhFan101]

then try to not fight people with cages

[SpeedDemon]

C'mon Bob, I'm disappointed in you. Hockey101 teaches you how to get a cage off in one motion :)

[-venom-]

I didn't quite master that until recently @ Ernie's Gold's Gym tournament.... haha, threw the helmet off the rink.

Remember there was a time where I wasn't a goon Naz, I was damn good at left bench and waterboy!

[SpeedDemon]

Yeah, and you were replaced by a 13 year old named Dom /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

[-venom-]

He's so much better at it too, what the hell :-(

[cannibalkid]

I was one of those kids that couldnt wait to take his cage off to play with the big boys. So much so that I started playing without it when i was 17. One night during a pick-up I caught a stick to the mouth and lost 4 teeth and the end of my tongue. The kid that hit me...13 years old. It was an accident. And yes it is true, sometimes things like this do happen. It is a part of the game. You cant change that, just like you cant change the fact that some guys will be ass masters and cheap shot people.

And I have seen people get hurt with cages. I was at a tournament when this kid was tripped going into the boards. His cage was loose so when he hit the ground, the metal around the chin protector caught him good. Blood everywhere....but another accident

[yokes]

Hey Frank Frank hows the knee???

Beware of a goalie that carries three sticks!

[FrankFrank]

Yo What's Shakin Yokes! The knee is gettin better. A little torn miniscus never hurt nobody. : ) Doc put me on some sweet pain killers to take before game time... let me just say Sweet. haha. Nah, all is good now. I've been doin some conditioning for it, and trying to get it ready for PIHA and the tournament season coming up. So we'll see what happens.

So what do you think Yokes... Why do you goalies hide behind the masks, huh?! Take it off, be some Real men! ha ha.

[MDE3]

anecdote about cages....My older son was on the rink with me when I was coaching my bantam A&B ice teams during a scrimmage...He had just come down from Montreal for a visit....he was scrimmaging with us..wearing only shin pads and gloves when a player on his own team - of course fully masked - but not watching where he was going, collided with my son face first..split the skin in about 3 places and required plastic surgery to restore his "boyish charm" lol.

Moral of the story.... are cages dangerous?.

It can happen anytime in this sport, and will eventually if you do not wear the protection. If it's not a serious injury..some stories and character scars may result..however it's not always minor.

[rinkrat15]

Listen if Tie Domi can put one on then anyone can, Domi is pound for pound one off the toughest fighter ever to play. I dought to many people will be skating up to him calling him out becasue of it...

Just an opinion

National Inline manager for Rink Rat wheels.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Dave,

Let mouthguards be mandatory for 18 and Under. I can't wear one. I gag. Like when RinkRat promotes his wheels without advertising... /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[yokes]

Good to hear your gettin better, who you playing for in PIHA, ill get to see you a couple times. Maybe we can get the jr Mudcats back together for some tournaments. As far as no helmet.....most of these so called snipers cant even hit the net so I would be safe. Boy what a way to open up a can of worms.

Beware of a goalie that carries three sticks!

[FrankFrank]

Ha ha... yeah, we do have a problem hitting the net.
This year I'm rollin with the Typhoon again, so it'll be a good looking season since there is an overwhelming amount of talent through out the entire league. Who you skating with boss? And yeah, we'll have to see about getting the baby 'cats off to another tourny or 2. I mean, 3am, sweet diner with a bar in LI... yeah, we need another road trip. Detroit sounds nice, ask Yings and Biff. haha

[yokes]

Ill be tending for Breakaway and ive already warned CJ we are coming for you guys. Talked to Yings today and he'll talk to Biff we are going to get together for some more tourneys. As for LI I seemed to misplace my Absolute bottle for those screwdrivers.

Beware of a goalie that carries three sticks!

[33]

detroit was nice. i'll travel to go to that bar again. yokes-thank goodness you lost that absolute bottle. i thought i was going to have to carry you out of that joint. as far as you coming for us - i think everyone will be. that's what makes this game the best game in the world.