Quote:
Originally Posted by FakenHaken
Looking at all these awesome looking masks. Is there an equipment rule whereby the goalies can not go back to the old school style masks?
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The old fibreglass masks were banned at all amateur levels in Canada in the late '70s after the Sabres' Gerry Desjardins was hit in the eye by a puck. After Bernie Parent's career was cut short in '79 for the same reason (in Parent's case it was an errant stick that hit him in the eye) pretty much all of the pro goalies abandoned it within a few years. The last holdout was Sam St. Laurent.
There may not be an explicit rule at the NHL level that forbids them (rule 11.8 says "Protective masks
of a design approved by the League must be worn by goalkeepers"; chances are an old fibreglass mask would not be approved but there's nothing in the rulebook that expressedly forbids them) but given that no goalie playing today grew up using an old fibreglass mask it's not likely any of them would choose to try one.
Not to mention that modern masks are a hell of a lot better from a practical standpoint. If you get hit in the face by a puck wearing the old style masks you'll feel every bit of it; there's usually no padding underneath and it's form-fit to your face. Taking a puck to the face wearing a modern mask doesn't feel great either but at least the worst side-effect is usually ringing ears, it'll otherwise absorb the impact. The old masks prevented cuts but wouldn't stop your face from looking terribly bruised after a game. Also, since it's form-fit, it doesn't leave any breathing room for your skin. After using and sweating into one for a few minutes you have to
peel the damn thing off your face.
2001-2002First game as a Flame December 12, 2001 vs Tampa Bay
