Oh come on. It's one thing to watch the game but it's another to play
it. When commenting on a game or on hockey from an objective standpoint,
I can completely understand where you're coming from. My father never
played competitive hockey but as a goalie, I value his advice and
observations of my game. To relate this subject of a half-shield to the
like with goalies being the cats-eye, an outside of observer does not
have any experience in it. You can't watch the game and be able to fully
understand the benefits of wearing a cats-eye or the real dangers of it,
not just specualtion which this listserv has been flooded with.
 
My take on th cats-eye (which is the goalie mask prevalent in the NHL in
which there are two larger opening outside of the eyes in which the
butt-end of a stick is able to get through which causes the danger) is
that it helps with my vision on the ice and while there are some dangers
with it, there are more benefits for the small risk. When I was
under-18, I signed the waiver, not because 'it's my body I'll do what I
want' as one person put it, but beacuse I weighed the advantages and
disadvantages and made my best informed choice.
 
I've been skating all spring with college and junior players who almost
all agree with the half-shield. If you see college players in the
off-season, whether in pick-up games, or in summer leagues, or camps,
they put on half-shields. And no, in 20 years of hockey, I have never
seen a serious injury caused by a half-shield, especially the weak
'speculatory' injuries such as having the half-shield itself cut your
face.
 
George Narode wrote:
>
> Derek; while this thread is growing real tiresome, your premise that
> playing the game and only playing the game gives one insight beyond
> us mortal spectators is totally flawed.
>
> Time to move on, check please.
>
> George
>
> On Mon, 31 May 1999, Derek Michael Hodgins wrote:
>
> > Ken,
> > I am in no way assuming that ONLY puckheads can comment on the game but
> > in some cases, in this the physical play of the game, who better to
> > comment than someone who's played the game? If you were a player, with
> > how much weight would you give criticism of your game by someone who is
> > merely a spectator? Yes, anyone can comment, but it's those who know
> > first hand how the game is played that carry the most weight.
> >
> > Cutler, Ken wrote:
> > >
> > > While Vicki's tirades and seeming inability to do anything but recite
> > > statistics and other studies without analysis can be annoying and
> > > frustrating, it is also a mistake to assume that only players or ex-players
> > > have legitimate points to make.  Vicki has watched a talented son play
> > > through D-1 hockey and on to, I believe, minor league hockey and that has
> > > certainly taught her something about the game and given her a basis for
> > > comment.  That she is sometimes off base says more about her analytical
> > > skills than her knowledge of the game.  But don't assume only puckheads can
> > > comment.
> > >
> > > HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
> > > [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
> >
> > --
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Derek Michael Hodgins
> > Columbia Design, Co.
> > [log in to unmask]
> > http://www.cyberhole.com
> >
> > Syracuse University
> > Student-Aerospace Engineering
> > SU Ice Hockey Club
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
> > [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
> >
 
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Derek Michael Hodgins
Columbia Design, Co.
[log in to unmask]
http://www.cyberhole.com
 
Syracuse University
Student-Aerospace Engineering
SU Ice Hockey Club
[log in to unmask]
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.