cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/570635 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 The tough part about this will be those with visors. They'll never fight with this rule change (or might not even be challanged), but I can certainly see why the league feels they need to do something given the circumstances the past month. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I can understand where they're coming from with this...but it's a slippery slope, being mainly decided upon by one freak occurrence. What next? If a player gets body checked, loses their helmet in the process and goes to join the play without going back to grab their helmet, is that an automatic penalty? Again, I can understand where they're coming from, but I wouldn't be surprised if more fight-related injuries occur because of helmets being ON (broken fingers, hands, etc.) rather than being tossed off. But, true, a broken hand isn't likely going to result in a fatality. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 The tough part about this will be those with visors. They'll never fight with this rule change (or might not even be challanged), but I can certainly see why the league feels they need to do something given the circumstances the past month. That too. I hate it when players fight and leave their visor on (Iginla, for instance). Will this result in the tough guys losing the visor? Or ceasing to be a tough guy and in some cases losing their ability to be a meaningful addition to a roster (for the lesser-skilled tough guys out there)? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I think the speed in which League President (also Commissioner of the CHL) David Branch takes action, with regards to what happens to players in other Leagues and the safety of the players he oversees (eg, Richard Zednik last season and the rule regarding "neck collars") has always been better for the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Crazy 201 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Will be interesting to see how this turns out. Nice to see the OHL doing something to prevent another tragedy. I still wonder why they can't make a button on visor that they can peel off when it's go time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Will be interesting to see how this turns out. Nice to see the OHL doing something to prevent another tragedy. I still wonder why they can't make a button on visor that they can peel off when it's go time. my thoughts exactly, I actually just posted a topic about that, haha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dano33 41 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) This is stupid. I think it should be encouraged to take your helmet OFF when you are in a fight, especially if you have a visor. All helmets and visors do is tear up guys hands. Its not like the play is still going on and they are worried about flying pucks. They are dumb to be worried about injuries, the guys are trying to punch each other in the face, if that is allowed then why do they have to keep their helmet on. Edited January 14, 2009 by Dano33 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coyote0106 2 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I can understand where they're coming from with this...but it's a slippery slope, being mainly decided upon by one freak occurrence. What next? If a player gets body checked, loses their helmet in the process and goes to join the play without going back to grab their helmet, is that an automatic penalty? According to the link, that is already a penalty. They can either A) put their helmet back on or B) skate to the bench. If they play with a helmet off, it's a penalty. They also have players wear "neck guards" as to protect against the Zednick injury last year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coyote0106 2 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 This is stupid. I think it should be encouraged to take your helmet OFF when you are in a fight, especially if you have a visor. Its not like the play is still going on and they are worried about flying pucks. They are dumb to be worried about injuries, the guys are trying to punch each other in the face, if that is allowed then why do they have to keep their helmet on. I'm completely against "keeping your helmet on"...because IMO, it adds to the "hide behind your visor" idea....but I feel you missed the point. They want to keep the helmets on during a fight because a player DIED from it. He got hit, his head hit the ice, and later died. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dano33 41 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I'm completely against "keeping your helmet on"...because IMO, it adds to the "hide behind your visor" idea....but I feel you missed the point. They want to keep the helmets on during a fight because a player DIED from it. He got hit, his head hit the ice, and later died. The players know what happened, i'm sure they heard about the tragedy. There shouldn't be suspensions for it, if they take their helmet off they know what is at stake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) get rid of mandatory visors or this is just stupid you'll end up with a situation like how it is in AAA right now... when the tough guys want to fight they just end up mutually agreeing to take off each other's helmets then square off EDIT...to clarify Edited January 14, 2009 by skacore Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seeinred 1,488 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Let's give suspensions for blocking shots, too. Players might get hurt otherwise! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imisssergei 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 get rid of mandatory visors or this is just stupid you'll end up with a situation like how it is in AAA right now... when the tough guys want to fight they just end up mutually agreeing to take off each other's helmets then square off EDIT...to clarify :clap: And to the idea of having some sort of button to press so the visor would just fall off.... That has to be the worst idea to solve this 'problem' that I've ever heard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Third Man In 2,091 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 That too. I hate it when players fight and leave their visor on (Iginla, for instance). Will this result in the tough guys losing the visor? Or ceasing to be a tough guy and in some cases losing their ability to be a meaningful addition to a roster (for the lesser-skilled tough guys out there)? Getting punched in the face while wearing a visor can end up poorly too--it's not likely, but if your helmet slips the wrong way you can end up with a broken nose. And as Dano33 says, helmets in general shred knuckles. Look, what happened was tragic and sad, but you can't remove every risk or prevent every fluke accident in a game like hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imisssergei 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Getting punched in the face while wearing a visor can end up poorly too--it's not likely, but if your helmet slips the wrong way you can end up with a broken nose. And as Dano33 says, helmets in general shred knuckles. Look, what happened was tragic and sad, but you can't remove every risk or prevent every fluke accident in a game like hockey. Some of the most nasty cuts I've seen were from visors. Plain and simple, a visor doesn't always protect, sometimes it can cause a great deal of harm to the one wearing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Third Man In 2,091 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I should add that what the league has done in the past has helped--the tie-down rule eliminated the Rob Ray striptease and helps reduce the risk of injury by keeping someone being dangerously thrown around with a sweater over their head. But a mandatory helmet on rule for fights seems ill conceived. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Don't like this. Fighting's been in the game forever and to make a penalty like this is quite a knee-jerk reaction for one unfortunate instance. What are the OHLers going to do that aren't accustom to fighting without a helmet when they get to the NHL and have to take on a veteran. Seems like there might be some danger there as well. I hope this isn't another step towards trying to eliminate fighting from the game altogether. :nonono: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted January 14, 2009 What the f*** are the players supposed to do? Punch a helmet? This would certainly kill fighting in the OHL. Morons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I swear to god, if they implement this rule in the WHL, I will be pissed. Nothing is better then a high energy game, with big hits and goals, capped up by fights between 2 good guys that can choose to take there helmets off. Besides, great OHL fights probably wouldnt have even happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blueliner 69 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) QUOTE (skacore @ January 14, 2009 - 01:23PM) get rid of mandatory visors or this is just stupid you'll end up with a situation like how it is in AAA right now... when the tough guys want to fight they just end up mutually agreeing to take off each other's helmets then square off actually, from the article that I read, that would also result in a one game suspension. This is horrible. Fighting needs to be in place. I hate it when major changes are made because of one freak accident. Just because one guy died and two guys got their throats cut 20 years apart doesn't mean you have to make all of these changes. If anything, they should make all players wear cages so they don't get high sticked and result in lost/broken teeth, cuts, or eye injuries. Though I'm not saying that they should wear cages. Fighting is similar to someone joining the army. They know what they are getting into and they know the risks. It would be a problem if they jump on people without notice like Todd Brutuzzi or what Crosby did a few games ago. Injuries are going to happen a lot in hockey. And unfortunatly you are going to have serious injuries. Here's a stat from Ohio HS Athletic Association. In the last 20 years or so, there have been about 30 serious injuries. Hockey had about three or four. Football wasn't even the worst. Track and Field had the most serious injuries. Unfortunetly two players in Ohio this season were paralyzed on the same weekend. These things happen and it's a shame, but it's nothing to make major changes about. edit: wrong quote Edited January 14, 2009 by Blueliner Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Just playing devils advocate, but I'm fairly confident the OHL is more concerned with people's faces and heads than they are with their knuckles. More than anything, I found the Sanderson incident to be a freak accident. Obviously there's the potential for it to happen but you're probably more likely to get killed in a Nascar wreck than you are the way Sanderson died. I don't agree with penalizing players for taking off their helmets, but I see where they're coming from. There's more to this than just the purity of the game. Incidents like this are an insurance nightmare for companies, and thats what the OHL is....a business. This most certainly doesn't mean I agree with it (because I don't), just that there's more to it than just purity of the game. If that was the issue, this rule never would've came to fruition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 Obvious overreaction is obvious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pavyaz19 1 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 it looks to me that you're only penalized if you take your own helmet off... maybe guys can settle down for an extra 2 seconds and remove the opposing fighter's helmet for him... haha. As a side note since all of this makes sense, I did hear that the MLB will be using a new ball this year made with 100% fresh marshmallows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 14, 2009 I think all hockey leagues should make all players wear full body armor and have to stay at least six feet away from each other at all times, and when shooting the puck, no one, not even the goalie can be in front of you, and you can only shoot it gently in case it ricochets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
