Another interesting read...

[pwrfwd26 0]

Found this on another board http://www.thethirdmanin.com/2008.12.01_ar...l#1229324982672

[Doctor Hook 0]

That's nasty, hope he doesn't lose his sight.

[KevinVu19 0]

if you would've read, hes not :P

[Rustpot 1]

if you would've read, hes not :P

he will most likely regain his sight

Article never said he's going to be good, doctors' promises and the need for surgery is anything but certain.

I'll probably never lose the cage now that I'm used to it. Visor for light pickup/pond/reffing at the very least.

[interpathway 9]

Wow. I've been clipped on my cage way too many times in minor hockey to consider a half shield or no shield. I don't really see myself ever changing that. Hope his son ends up alright.

[kovalchuk71 212]

If you would have read, he probably wont.

;)

[Yoke 0]

I didn't wear a cage or a half shield for a little while, and it just got too dangerous. I like the half shield. It saved me from a broken nose once in the fall session of mens league.

[Nightcast 0]

I could never go out with out a cage unless I'm playing in the NHl in which I get paid to play. Theres no point, I've been hit so many times in the face with a puck that if I didn't have a cage I would look like him but in both eyes. Too each there own.

[coryroth24 15]

For my men's league, I always wear a cage. I like to go full out and will throw myself in front of a shot if I have to. I found that once I put on a visor, I wasn't the same player anymore. Now the only time I will wear my visor is playing pickup hockey with the guys I know. For one, I won't be diving for any shots in pickup and two, they guys I play with aren't stupid enough to wind up when you're right on top of them...

[W.Heinle 0]

Wow. I've been clipped on my cage way too many times in minor hockey to consider a half shield or no shield. I don't really see myself ever changing that. Hope his son ends up alright.

I agree, no later than last night I stepped up to block a shot, the puck hit my stick and then up and hit me right on the cage.

[ArcArsenal 0]

It seems like everytime I think of ditching the cage I get hit in the face...The worlds way of telling me to keep it on.

[#44wannabe 4]

When things like this happen you can understand why the IIHF mandate the use of at least a half visor (even if it is only applied for those bron 1975 and onwards).

Hope he gets his sight back.

[eric42434224 1]

Same reason people dont wear helmets when operating a motorcycle. There is no good reason. The negative consequenses outweigh any positives my a margin that may be too big to adequately express. It must be hard wired in humans to ignore risks wether through an invincibility complex, ridiculous rationalization, or flat out denial. The picture above illustrates the consequenses. I am sure he doesnt think it is worth the "better vision" on the ice. Ironic that he likely sacraficed his vision perhaps for the rest of his life for marginally better vision for an hour or two a week. Just not worth it.

[#44wannabe 4]

I still find it hard to believe you don't have to wear a crash lid in the states, that is just nuts.

[Jason Harris 31]

It varies by state regarding motorcycle helmets.

Eric, I had the same thought. The irony of gaining visibility temporarily at the expense of potentially losing eyesight permanently. Obviously, not everyone agrees with that assessment, but it sure factors into my thinking.

[LkptTiger 1]

It's all dependent on your mentality, really.

I've grown-up valuing performance/mobility over durability/protection since I was able to recognize the difference. I've suffered a few broken bones and a LOT of cuts and innumerable bad bruises that, had I been wearing more protective equipment, I could have avoided. It's a risk I'm more than willing to take

Since jumping to Junior hockey and swapping the cage for a halfer (save for the games I've had to go back to the cage to protect stitches or when I had my nose broken), my face has taken a pretty good beating. I've come to the conclusion that it's pretty much nearly impossibly to go an entire game without taking a shoulder, elbow, glove or stick to the mouth, cheek, chin or nose. But, I am a bit more comfortable on the ice - I feel much more open and free (and accountable).

In all honesty, unless I end-up playing college hockey somewhere, I don't think I could ever go back to a cage. I very much doubt that, when I get to beer league hockey, I'd ever go bare for an extended period of time (too much risk while playing at a level that doesn't mean much), but I'll likely give it a shot for a game or two. I'll likely find the smallest visor I can find and bring it down just low enough to cover my eyes - I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

[pantherfan 0]

Hey, it can be done. :P

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=23916

Quite the story behind that guy aswell.

[eric42434224 1]

It's all dependent on your mentality, really.

I've grown-up valuing performance/mobility over durability/protection since I was able to recognize the difference. I've suffered a few broken bones and a LOT of cuts and innumerable bad bruises that, had I been wearing more protective equipment, I could have avoided. It's a risk I'm more than willing to take

Since jumping to Junior hockey and swapping the cage for a halfer (save for the games I've had to go back to the cage to protect stitches or when I had my nose broken), my face has taken a pretty good beating. I've come to the conclusion that it's pretty much nearly impossibly to go an entire game without taking a shoulder, elbow, glove or stick to the mouth, cheek, chin or nose. But, I am a bit more comfortable on the ice - I feel much more open and free (and accountable).

In all honesty, unless I end-up playing college hockey somewhere, I don't think I could ever go back to a cage. I very much doubt that, when I get to beer league hockey, I'd ever go bare for an extended period of time (too much risk while playing at a level that doesn't mean much), but I'll likely give it a shot for a game or two. I'll likely find the smallest visor I can find and bring it down just low enough to cover my eyes - I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

This proves my point. You say you are more than willing to take the risk. But to you the risks are cuts and bruises, stitches and broken noses. All temporary and superficial injuries. You completely ignore the risks of things like loss of your eyesight. This falls under the category of denial. But as an adult, we are all able to make our own decisions. I can only say what I do and why.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I played a few times without a visor or cage at some pick-up games, but put the cage back on the next week. That same night, I got high sticked twice in the cage. First one probably would've chipped a few teeth, and the second one would've either hit me in the nose or the eyes. Just a few weeks ago in a game, I was swinging around behind the net and someone in front of the net picked there stick up right as I went by. Sounded like a bell ringing when it hit my cage. Then a couple games later someone high sticked me hard enough it nearly took my helmet off my head. I was really glad I had the cage that time, because it would've done a good bit of damage to me.

I love playing without a cage, but I only do it at stick and pucks. My eyes and teeth are too important to me to play without one in games. People are just too reckless. The slight increase in vision isn't worth it compared to the recovery time/cost of getting hit in the face. I say slight because with my Nike Bauer 9500 cage, I really don't even notice it's there.

[eric42434224 1]

I agree. Once I am on the ice I dont even know the 9500 is there. When it comes to amateur leagues, I would say that the "increased vision" justification is partly, and maybe even mostly, psychological.

[LkptTiger 1]

It's all dependent on your mentality, really.

I've grown-up valuing performance/mobility over durability/protection since I was able to recognize the difference. I've suffered a few broken bones and a LOT of cuts and innumerable bad bruises that, had I been wearing more protective equipment, I could have avoided. It's a risk I'm more than willing to take

Since jumping to Junior hockey and swapping the cage for a halfer (save for the games I've had to go back to the cage to protect stitches or when I had my nose broken), my face has taken a pretty good beating. I've come to the conclusion that it's pretty much nearly impossibly to go an entire game without taking a shoulder, elbow, glove or stick to the mouth, cheek, chin or nose. But, I am a bit more comfortable on the ice - I feel much more open and free (and accountable).

In all honesty, unless I end-up playing college hockey somewhere, I don't think I could ever go back to a cage. I very much doubt that, when I get to beer league hockey, I'd ever go bare for an extended period of time (too much risk while playing at a level that doesn't mean much), but I'll likely give it a shot for a game or two. I'll likely find the smallest visor I can find and bring it down just low enough to cover my eyes - I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

This proves my point. You say you are more than willing to take the risk. But to you the risks are cuts and bruises, stitches and broken noses. All temporary and superficial injuries. You completely ignore the risks of things like loss of your eyesight. This falls under the category of denial. But as an adult, we are all able to make our own decisions. I can only say what I do and why.

You obviously skimmed...and missed most, if not all, of my final little paragraph.

[eric42434224 1]

It's all dependent on your mentality, really.

I've grown-up valuing performance/mobility over durability/protection since I was able to recognize the difference. I've suffered a few broken bones and a LOT of cuts and innumerable bad bruises that, had I been wearing more protective equipment, I could have avoided. It's a risk I'm more than willing to take

Since jumping to Junior hockey and swapping the cage for a halfer (save for the games I've had to go back to the cage to protect stitches or when I had my nose broken), my face has taken a pretty good beating. I've come to the conclusion that it's pretty much nearly impossibly to go an entire game without taking a shoulder, elbow, glove or stick to the mouth, cheek, chin or nose. But, I am a bit more comfortable on the ice - I feel much more open and free (and accountable).

In all honesty, unless I end-up playing college hockey somewhere, I don't think I could ever go back to a cage. I very much doubt that, when I get to beer league hockey, I'd ever go bare for an extended period of time (too much risk while playing at a level that doesn't mean much), but I'll likely give it a shot for a game or two. I'll likely find the smallest visor I can find and bring it down just low enough to cover my eyes - I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

This proves my point. You say you are more than willing to take the risk. But to you the risks are cuts and bruises, stitches and broken noses. All temporary and superficial injuries. You completely ignore the risks of things like loss of your eyesight. This falls under the category of denial. But as an adult, we are all able to make our own decisions. I can only say what I do and why.

You obviously skimmed...and missed most, if not all, of my final little paragraph.

No I didnt. Thinking that a short half visor will protect you from any eye injury illustrates my point perfectly.

[LkptTiger 1]

1) Debatable (to some degree), and 2) irrelevant to your original argument a few posts back.

If I say this:

I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

You can't say this:

But to you the risks are cuts and bruises, stitches and broken noses. All temporary and superficial injuries. You completely ignore the risks of things like loss of your eyesight.

Obviously, the greater risk is being acknowledged.

[#44wannabe 4]

Why does beauregard wear the full visor?

[eric42434224 1]

1) Debatable (to some degree), and 2) irrelevant to your original argument a few posts back.

If I say this:

I've found that I can deal with a broken nose, but it's going to be difficult to play hockey with one eye.

You can't say this:

But to you the risks are cuts and bruises, stitches and broken noses. All temporary and superficial injuries. You completely ignore the risks of things like loss of your eyesight.

Obviously, the greater risk is being acknowledged.

You cant say that you dont mind a broken nose, but cant play with an eye injury, and think a half shield will fully protect you. My point is that using a half shield does not truly protect your eyes. The greater risk (eye injury) is not being acknowledged.....it is being ignored. I thought my point was crystal clear.