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Slow Integration of Helmets in the NHL

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Ref

Ref

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Oct 29, 2002
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Over the Xmas break I have caught a few of the "Classic Games" on cable TV. Kind of strange to see no advertisements on the boards and goalies who are small.

A Leafs/Flames play-off game from 1979 was telecast and I would estimate that 30% - 35% of the players wore helmets. The obvious one was Salming who was used to a helmet from his days in Sweden.

My question - Why did only some guys wear helmets? Were they smart enough to realize the dangers of playing without a lid? Were the guys who did not wear helmets think they were invincible? Did peer pressure come into play? Were some players just really slow (not very intelligent)? Were you perceived to be a "Wimp" if you wore one?

I find it amazing that players in that era/time looked at helmets in a negative light - Especially since one crack in the noggin from a puck/fist/board/ice could end a career, and back then your salary wasn't as dependable as it is in today's game.

Just surprised that it took as long as it did...
 
S

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Ref said:
Over the Xmas break I have caught a few of the "Classic Games" on cable TV. Kind of strange to see no advertisements on the boards and goalies who are small.

A Leafs/Flames play-off game from 1979 was telecast and I would estimate that 30% - 35% of the players wore helmets. The obvious one was Salming who was used to a helmet from his days in Sweden.

My question - Why did only some guys wear helmets? Were they smart enough to realize the dangers of playing without a lid? Were the guys who did not wear helmets think they were invincible? Did peer pressure come into play? Were some players just really slow (not very intelligent)? Were you perceived to be a "Wimp" if you wore one?

I find it amazing that players in that era/time looked at helmets in a negative light - Especially since one crack in the noggin from a puck/fist/board/ice could end a career, and back then your salary wasn't as dependable as it is in today's game.

Just surprised that it took as long as it did...
Click to expand...
Why did everyone not wear seatbelts in the early 70's and prior?
 
C

checks

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The game evolved as players began to wear helmets. There was a time that goalies didn't wear facemasks too. When nobody is wearing a helmet and the pads are lightweight, the players approached the game a different way. Everyone was a little more cautious about sticks and high shots. Consider rugby vs american football: way more injuries in american football because guys hit way harder. If you aren't as well protected, you might think twice about hitting a guy in dangerous ways.

Also, we know much more now about head injuries than we did. Some of those guys played in the league for 10 plus years, and never wore a helmet in their life, why would they all of a sudden start? And keep in mind that they are/were professionals, not beer league guys who have no control and vision for the game. The only way the league could make everyone comply was to grandfather the rule in - player who enter the league after a certain date had to wear a helmet. I wonder why they don't do that for visors as well, since every player that enters the league now wears one in the league they came from.
 
N

nondescriptive

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checks said:
The only way the league could make everyone comply was to grandfather the rule in - player who enter the league after a certain date had to wear a helmet.
Click to expand...
From a spectator standpoint, before the mandatory helmet rule, it was easy to tell who was on the ice, by the player's hairstyle, especially with the long hair style of the 70's or lack of hair.

Trivia: Who was the last NHLer to play without a helmet? and who was last goalie to play without a mask?
 
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superstar_88

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