LkptTiger 1 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 I just recently bought a new helmet (Bauer 8000). I was fooling around with it the other night and decided to take the translucent plastic ear covers off. I then tried it on and found it much more comfortable. Last Friday night one of the refs calling an exhibition game between my team and a team from Ohio told me that he wasn't sure on the ruling, but he thought that the ear-piece was mandated by USA Hockey rules. Since it was only an exhibition game, and he wasn't 100% sure on the ruling, he questioned my personal knowledge of the rule and let it slide. Since I don't know what the rule is, I guess I must come to you guys. I was hoping one of you would know the rule for sure, so I will be able to know if I can leave my helmet the way it is or if I have to put the pieces back on. If I can't get a solid answer, I suppose I can just keep them in my bag and put them on if any refs decide I need them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 Ear flaps are required for participation in USA Hockey sanctioned games.Rule 304-B Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kosydar 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 I've talked to a few refs here, including the head ref, and they've all told me that it is a USA hockey rule that you need to have the ear pieces in. That being said, I took mine out and don't know where they are, so I don't wear them. It isn't one of those things that I've ever seen called, but its a good idea to wear them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LkptTiger 1 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 Alrighty then. I suppose I'll have to wrestle around with 'em and get them back in place (maybe I should have checked on the ruling before I took them out *slaps self for being stupid*). Thanks, fellas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 It's actually highlighted in the rule book this year and it was discussed at the seminar this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QandA 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 Yeah, at my referee clinice 2 years ago I think we talked about it and I'm 95% it's mandatory in Canadian Minor Hockey as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 4, 2004 Once you cross the boarder.........you're still going to need those earpieces in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cavs019 708 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 They arent mandatory in prep. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanmccann 3 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 What about neckguards in the US? Are they madatory? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kosydar 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 No. However, some organizations, like mine, are really cool and require them. The best thing to do to get around wearing them is to wear a Nike headband around your neck. Much more comfortable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LkptTiger 1 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 ...Nobody in our league wears them. We play against a few Canadien teams where most if not all the guys wear them (not sure if they are mandatory north of the border...), then there are a few teams we play from surrounding states where there may be five or six guys wearing them. For the most part, though, neck-guards aren't likely to be seen in my league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eazy_b97 1 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Neck guards are mandatory in Canadian Minor Hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 What about neckguards in the US? Are they madatory? There were two documented cases of kids bleeding to death because the nylon neck guards deflected a skate into the players jugular. USA Hockey will never require them because of the liability problems. You are actually safer with a thick headband than a nylon neck guard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshy207 15 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 The Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League in metro Detroit requires neckguards for all league games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3801 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 What about neckguards in the US? Are they madatory? There were two documented cases of kids bleeding to death because the nylon neck guards deflected a skate into the players jugular. USA Hockey will never require them because of the liability problems. You are actually safer with a thick headband than a nylon neck guard. Weren't those the neckguards that had plastic inserts in them? That is what I heard, and that the regular soft neckguards are safer because it absorbs the blade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim A 4 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I'm not suire if it was the actual catalyst for all of it, but we had a kid in our travel league way back in the day when i was in minor hockey who bled to death after getting cut in the ear...prior to that i don't ever remember ear pieces coming on my helmet..but soon after they were everywhere... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 They were ballistik nylon. That doesn't absorb the impact, it deflects the impact away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I'm not suire if it was the actual catalyst for all of it, but we had a kid in our travel league way back in the day when i was in minor hockey who bled to death after getting cut in the ear...prior to that i don't ever remember ear pieces coming on my helmet..but soon after they were everywhere... Was he cut by a skates or what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3801 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 They were ballistik nylon. That doesn't absorb the impact, it deflects the impact away. Ah, gotcha...I remember those.The ones that CCM makes are almost like soakers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3 Report post Posted October 6, 2004 Yeah, at my referee clinice 2 years ago I think we talked about it and I'm 95% it's mandatory in Canadian Minor Hockey as well. Yes, It is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
#94 3 Report post Posted October 6, 2004 Yeah, you don't have to wear earpieces in NE Prep hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagles39 0 Report post Posted October 8, 2004 I was thrown out of a game last weekend for not having my earpieces in my helmet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BackhandTopShelf 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2004 Definitely wear the earpeices.......I never used to, but was sitting on the bench, wearing a Bauer 5000 (minus earpeices), and got hit with the puck just behind and below my ear (back of skull). I thought I was going to blackout, but maintained consciousness. It wasn't fun. I just bought the Bauer 8000 helmet, and have left the ear protection on, and it is totally comfortable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fox 0 Report post Posted October 20, 2004 I myself used to wear a neckgaurd, but gawd! Thing was cold when I didn't get any playing time. I hit the over 18 mark, so I might just switch to lexan gaurd. I don't have to worry about ear pieces, just the nagging of a cat-eye cage or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2048 0 Report post Posted October 20, 2004 Definitely wear the earpeices.......I never used to, but was sitting on the bench, wearing a Bauer 5000 (minus earpeices), and got hit with the puck just behind and below my ear (back of skull). I thought I was going to blackout, but maintained consciousness. It wasn't fun. I just bought the Bauer 8000 helmet, and have left the ear protection on, and it is totally comfortable. Oh man, I feel your pain. I was a bit luckier though; when that happened to me, I was sitting on the bench and a slapshot hit me around the temple/top of my helmet, can't really remember which. Hurt like hell, but I can't imagine without my helmet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
