Simple solution to the helmet's staying on fighting situation

[stevkrause 1,247]

It's very simple, have the AHL and NHL work with Bauer, CCM, Reebok, etc... to produce shields with locks/hinges that can be raised up to expose the face, make all shields have a mandatory latch that can be lifted when unlocked... everyone wins, fighters can fight, helmets stay on to protect against head to ice injuries... then make rule adjustments as appropriate -

Additional penalties/suspensions for removing helmets, removing each others helmets during fights and additional penalties for unsecured chip straps (like the jersey tie down rule)

HOWEVER

All fighters that square off HAVE to unlatch their shield or receive an additional unsportsmanlike penalty...

This way, cowards cannot hide behind their shields and take cheap shots without retribution and if they do have to fight, protect their faces while the fighter demolishes his hand on the shield and lands no real shots...

It would be easy as hell and easy to implement... obviously judgment calls would be needed as to additional penalties as well

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

It's very simple, have the AHL and NHL work with Bauer, CCM, Reebok, etc... to produce shields with locks/hinges that can be raised up to expose the face, make all shields have a mandatory latch that can be lifted when unlocked... everyone wins, fighters can fight, helmets stay on to protect against head to ice injuries... then make rule adjustments as appropriate -

Additional penalties/suspensions for removing helmets, removing each others helmets during fights and additional penalties for unsecured chip straps (like the jersey tie down rule)

HOWEVER

All fighters that square off HAVE to unlatch their shield or receive an additional unsportsmanlike penalty...

This way, cowards cannot hide behind their shields and take cheap shots without retribution and if they do have to fight, protect their faces while the fighter demolishes his hand on the shield and lands no real shots...

It would be easy as hell and easy to implement... obviously judgment calls would be needed as to additional penalties as well

EPIC FAIL

[uk_redwing 495]

Or how about, we just accept that after hundreds of thousands of fights in hockey, one person dying in a freak accident is nothing serious. Greatest respect to the kid, but helmets come off in hockey all the time and players are fine.

[rwfan007 18]

most fights occur in the heat of the moment, players are not going to stop, unlatch their visors, and then fight.

[stevkrause 1,247]

EPIC FAIL

want to tell me how?!??!

I think it is an over-reaction and a stupid rule in the first place, but the AHL has already implimented it and the further this goes, the closer we come to losing fighting all together... instead of just saying how stupid the rule is, I was trying to offer a solution to work with the system... the rules ARE there and are going to continue to get added any time a freak occurrence happens, so rather than ***** about how stupid the new rules are (which aren't going to go away) why not try and find a way around them?!?!?!

What's your solution, other than "let's keep it the way it is" - because that is NOT going to happen...

[Hockey13Playa 240]

thanks, but a giant NO THANKS.

Never in a million years would this happen, or would anyone want to.

To much work, and like others stated, heat of the moment, and such, just no.

[Swayze 81]

People aren't going to take the time to take off their visors. Hell, some people don't even wait to take off their gloves anymore *cough* tootoo *cough*.

[Izzy24 44]

I don't think this scheme is sufficiently complicated.

[ilmickeyli 40]

[up2here 41]

It's very simple, have the AHL and NHL work with Bauer, CCM, Reebok, etc... to produce shields with locks/hinges that can be raised up to expose the face, make all shields have a mandatory latch that can be lifted when unlocked... everyone wins, fighters can fight, helmets stay on to protect against head to ice injuries... then make rule adjustments as appropriate -

Additional penalties/suspensions for removing helmets, removing each others helmets during fights and additional penalties for unsecured chip straps (like the jersey tie down rule)

HOWEVER

All fighters that square off HAVE to unlatch their shield or receive an additional unsportsmanlike penalty...

This way, cowards cannot hide behind their shields and take cheap shots without retribution and if they do have to fight, protect their faces while the fighter demolishes his hand on the shield and lands no real shots...

It would be easy as hell and easy to implement... obviously judgment calls would be needed as to additional penalties as well

I think that is a solution but not a simple one. A more simple solution is tougher penalties on players who remove their helmet for a fight. No solution is going to solve this 100% and I would hazard a guess that theres less chance of death being in a hockey fight than there is to drive a car.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I seriously wish Fail, Epic Fail and any variation of the phrase would be a bannable offense.

While I disagree with the original poster's idea, he's trying to illicit a discussion. After all, this is a discussion board.

If people feel the need to respond to the thread, it'd be nice if they bothered to actually string a sentence or two together about why they disagree instead of just posting EPIC FAIL.

/rant

On topic, as others mentioned I just don't think it's practical to expect guys to unlatch their shields before fighting. But worse than that would be the possibility of the visor coming unlatched during normal play when it's supposed to be protecting the guys face. There's so many instances that it gets hit with someone's glove, or a stick, or pressed into the glass, or even hit by a puck.

I don't know how they'd construct one that would stay on through all that, but be easy enough to detach before a fight.

[esteef 2,679]

How about this?

harold - I hate those 'FAIL' expressions too.

esteef

Edited January 14, 2009 by esteef

[joshy207 156]

Harold's right, a shield like that is virtually impossible to create.

Also, the whole point of guys removing their helmets before a fight is so that they don't break their hands on each other's helmets.

[up2here 41]

Harold's right, a shield like that is virtually impossible to create.

Also, the whole point of guys removing their helmets before a fight is so that they don't break their hands on each other's helmets.

I think the league knows the reason but theyre trying to stress the danger of removing the helmet. Broken hand better than broken head kinda deal.

[CrossCheck24 2]

Fighting without helmets has been working for so long, no matter what precaution the league took, statistics say that someone will die from it. I'm still sad to see it happen, don't get me wrong

Figting with helmets on, someone could choke on the chinstrap and die, will it be a penalty to keep your helmet on at that point?

2 NHLers have been cut in the neck by skate blades but there isn't a requirement for players to wear neck guards.

[Saran 1]

[joshy207 156]

I think the league knows the reason but theyre trying to stress the danger of removing the helmet. Broken hand better than broken head kinda deal.

Right, but you'll have 50 broken hands before you have one broken head.

[12Newf 0]

I think that is a solution but not a simple one. A more simple solution is tougher penalties on players who remove their helmet for a fight. No solution is going to solve this 100% and I would hazard a guess that theres less chance of death being in a hockey fight than there is to drive a car.

is dany heatley driving?

[12Newf 0]

I seriously wish Fail, Epic Fail and any variation of the phrase would be a bannable offense.

it seriously should be.

[stevkrause 1,247]

what a surprise, all people have offered were "leave it as it is" or any variation of the "fail" comment... original...

yet again -

I think it is an over-reaction and a stupid rule in the first place, but the AHL HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IT and the further this goes, the closer we come to losing fighting all together... instead of just saying how stupid the rule is, I was trying to offer a solution to work with the system... the rules ARE there and are going to continue to get added any time a freak occurrence happens, so rather than ***** about how stupid the new rules are (which aren't going to go away) why not try and find a way around them?!?!?!

What's your solution, other than "let's keep it the way it is" - because that is NOT going to happen...

Also... I don't think visors should be mandatory by any means, but this simply is a way around the cowards that hide behind them... i.e Tootoo

Edited January 15, 2009 by stevkrause

[Echolalia 2,961]

How about instead of that, when people fight they just go back to the old code and not punch to kill, but rather send a message and more importantly keep the fan base entertained. Unfortunately people lose tempers and this kind of thing has become almost impossible to work, but you can tell some fighters have an unnerving rage about them that makes them dangerous, while others are cool, and while they don't pull their punches, they aren't aiming to send a guy to the hospital either.

Reason number 18 why I love Downey so much.

[esteef 2,679]

what a surprise, all people have offered were "leave it as it is" or any variation of the "fail" comment... original...

yet again -

I think it is an over-reaction and a stupid rule in the first place, but the AHL HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IT and the further this goes, the closer we come to losing fighting all together... instead of just saying how stupid the rule is, I was trying to offer a solution to work with the system... the rules ARE there and are going to continue to get added any time a freak occurrence happens, so rather than ***** about how stupid the new rules are (which aren't going to go away) why not try and find a way around them?!?!?!

What's your solution, other than "let's keep it the way it is" - because that is NOT going to happen...

Also... I don't think visors should be mandatory by any means, but this simply is a way around the cowards that hide behind them... i.e Tootoo

First off, settle down dude. Maybe people just don't agree that just because the OHL did something that means the NHL certainly will follow suit. I think that's all people are saying here. I mean, college hockey wears cages mandatory, does that mean it's GOING TO HAPPEN in the NHL too?

Don't ***** at people because their answers weren't what you were expecting.

esteef

[Red Crazy 201]

Seems like there is no simple solution to this. It seems like this will be a much bigger issue in the minor leagues then in the NHL. Most ( and I don't have the stats) fights in the NHL players have their helmets on and there only seems to be a few that prefer to take them off prior to fighting. I like the idea of tear off visors but like Harold said it would be almost impossible to design.