Hockey with no helmets? Really? When did they do this?


Yes, I am watching Slap Shot

6/27/2010 10:19:21 PM

So you acknowledge the fact that hockey used to be played without helmets, and automatically assume we immediately think Slap Shot?

#FAIL

[Edited on June 27, 2010 at 10:28 PM. Reason : .]

6/27/2010 10:28:17 PM

I never watched Hockey until college, I was strictly into Football.

6/27/2010 10:29:29 PM

the last player to not wear a helmet was craig mactavish; he retired in 1997

the last goalie to not wear a mask was andy brown; he played his last NHL game in 1974 and played in the WHA (later incorporated into the NHL) in 1977

6/28/2010 2:43:37 AM

^The helmet rule only took effect on the new players once it was established. If you were in the league before the rule, you could go helmet-free. The fact that some guys go even without a visor scares the shit out of me.

6/28/2010 3:36:46 AM

Rugby is where it's at. Holla...

6/28/2010 3:38:50 AM

visors are for pussies

6/28/2010 8:40:20 AM

does anyone know the stats on deaths/serious injury before and after helmets were added?

6/29/2010 3:02:00 PM

6/29/2010 3:07:35 PM

how did you not know this

6/29/2010 3:09:06 PM

visors are not for pussies.

6/29/2010 3:13:43 PM

Bill Masterton is the ONLY player to have died as a direct result of an injury sustained during an NHL hockey game. In 1967 Masterton was coaxed out of retirement to play with the Minnesota North Stars during their inaugural season. He is credited with scoring the first goal in North Stars' history.

On January 13, 1968, early in a game against the Oakland Seals, Masterton was hit almost simultaneously by two of the Seal players and fell backwards hitting his head on the ice. Two days later he passed away from a massive hemorage. This event, more than any other, was the impetous for making NHL players wear helmets during games.

The Masterton trophy for dedication, sportsmanship, and perseverance is awarded annually by the NHL in his honor. His jersey number 19 was never again worn by any North Star player and was officially retired in 1987. After the team moved to Dallas, the retired number is still honored by the franchise.

6/29/2010 3:50:40 PM

this guy was back on the ice like a week later. really lucky he didn't die. Not for those with a weak stomach (goalie gets his throat slit with skate). in my book, hockey players are probably the toughest none combat sport athletes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Zv4uo-iog

6/29/2010 4:31:33 PM

nope, that would be football

6/30/2010 1:10:50 AM

i'm not a hockey homer, but to say that football is "tougher" than hockey, in a thread dediacted to life threatening injuries, is absurd

football players dont play with lethal weapons at their hands or strapped to their feet

6/30/2010 1:17:05 AM

2nd most common injury in all of sports, neck injuries:

Quote :

" * Football: 114,706 neck injuries * Soccer: 19,341 neck injuries * Ice hockey: 5,038 neck injuries "

Yes I realize less people playing Hockey, but still impressive.





[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 1:36 AM. Reason : .]

6/30/2010 1:35:11 AM

so neck injuries are the only fatal injuries in sportsd?

6/30/2010 1:40:37 AM

http://www.ma.iup.edu/~tshort/handouts/football_deaths.html




[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 1:44 AM. Reason : ,]

6/30/2010 1:43:48 AM

for those neck injuries stats to be relevant, you'd really need an injury/x amount of players stat. Are those in the US stats? All age/skill levels? Not nearly the number of kids play youth league - high school hockey as football/baseball/soccer.

And think about it, if you're going by those stats, soccer is tough. ehh, sorry --- I like soccer, but uttering it in the same breath as hockey or football when talking about this sort of thing takes away all credibility.



i'm not talking about injuries. How does getting injured make you tough? That's more a testament to the most risky sport. In which case, take a look at cheerleading injuries (seriously). I'm talking about general toughness. Tough, to the grind, playing hurt, and playing hard - that kinda thing.

I'd go combat sports >>> hockey > football >>>>>> all other major sports w/o considering rugby. The main reason i put hockey above football is because those guys play for much longer, continuous periods of time than football players. the average football play lasts seconds. hockey requires more endurance and stamina.

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 7:24 AM. Reason : .]

6/30/2010 7:17:28 AM