>>I would like to see NCAA go to the half sheild, I am not saying go with
out eye protection. In the NHL players that wear shields also take crap
from the players that don't wear them. If you read the denver post article
it quotes Chris Drury and his opinion of the mask and he is not the only
person that has said this. Former UND player Perry Berrizan (sp) also
brought up the same points about the Mask, as being one of the major
difference between the NHL and NCAA. Are we supposed to just
discount what they said?<<
 
I'm not discounting what they said at all; in fact, they are confirming what
I was trying to say myself, that the reason there are no masks/shields
in the NHL (probably) has nothing to do with them being a risk factor (or
even being "uncomfortable", for that matter), and everything to do with
ego and tradition. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating masks OR
shields (at least from a "mandatory" point-of-view) in the NHL, I am just
saying that most (I shall refrain from saying "every"...someone will kill
themselves researching this ;-) changes as regards rules of play,
equipment mandates, etc., in every sport, have been met with
resistance; who likes change? Who *wants* to change? But time, even
if it starts with coercive (yet fair & just) compliance has a way of
bringing everyone on to the same page; sure, no one wants to be an
outcast; a "wimp"; but if the NHL were to mandate half-shields (and
again, I am neither pro or con on this - the professional arena should be
considered in a totally different manner from NCAA/amateur play), I
could reasonably guarantee than within 2 or 3 years it would be a non
issue. Such is the state of change.
 
But the collegiate realm is different; here are young men, most of which
are trying to use college as a building block to a lucrative career (and
not necessarily in hockey). These are adults in most respect, yes, but
more accurately, they are young men. They shouldn't have to worry
about things like team ostracism and any subsequent negative effects
on team performance (not to mention their life, in general) just because
they have an awareness of the "big picture" (i.e. - safety).
 
This became a lot longer than intended; it wasn't all meant as a
personal response as regards your quote at the top, Eric. Sorry if it
came off like that.
 
Robert
 
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