I'm sure I'm in the minority, but l personally believe shoulder pads should be mandatory in beer league, not for shoulder or arm protection, but to protect the chest. A puck to the chest can stop your heart. It's a ridiculous macho thing for guys to play without shoulder pads, and there's no good reason for it. It's at the point where I play coed tournaments now and there are 110 lb women playing against 200 lb men, and they're not wearing shoulder pads because, "well if the guys don't wear them....".