Hey Vicki, are you ever going to repond to me? Have you ever played
hocke? What kind of experience do you have with the game? You can't
analyze a game like hockey by stating statistics and facts. it doesn't
work that way, sorry. For hockey players, people like you are just plain
annoying. We play the game, we love the game, we know the game, thank
God that most of the governing bodies of hockey leagues are past players
and people who know the game inside and out, that's why their rulings
are respected. Some idiot off the street crying 'wolf' about the
sensationalist myths of hockey are just annoying to listen to.
 
I support the half-shield, I support competitive physical play where
players do it for the game, not to injure, and I support hockey in its
purest sense as a tough mental and physical game, not as 'soccer.'
 
How do you have time to write all of that bullshit? Do you have a job?
I'm on summer break working part-time and I don't even write that much.
 
Vicki Price wrote:
>
> [log in to unmask] wrote:
> <snip>
>
> <I think most of us are. But when a discussion starts about the <debate
> between half-shields and full-shields and then you back up your claim by
> saying that Washington lost a certain amount of man-games which is this much
> more than last year, it drowns out your desired effect. You were using facts
> about general injuries to try to support a relatively limited discussion.
> Even if that wasn't your intended effect, it was certainly implied.
>
> Ben, you must have missed some of my posts. There aren't that many
> substantive studies in regard to the full or half face mask.   Some of those
> other injury references were in response to someone who claimed injuries are
> not on the upswing. They are according to the Hockey news, online team
> reports and various articles I've read. The study that Meeuwisse did on the
> half versus the full is the only one out there that I know about. He is the
> Calgary Flames team doctor. Certainly, I can give anyone information
> regarding articles. I obtained them through my local library data base. Ask
> me what you are interested in and I'll give you some titles, authors, etc.
>
> <And yes, you are a parent of players, but who's more qualified to <tell what
> <they want, the parent or the player?
>
> I don't disagree entirely with that. I posted that players, and I'm talking
> from REAL personal experience here (my minor leaguer) want it off. My son
> won't even entertain the idea of a half. When the Libby incident happened
> this season (my son was Libby's defensive line-mate Libby's last season at
> Maine) he agreed with  other players, it was a freak accident. Interestingly,
> another Islander player years ago had a similar eye injury and was lucky
> enough to return to play with a half shield replacing no shield.
>
> <Isn't it kind of ridiculous that almost
> <without exception the players and coaches, those actually involved in the
> game, want half-shields allowed, yet it will never happen because of NCCA
> red-tape? I can see why full shields should be forced on kids, but these are
> adults of legal age(18) we're talking about here. Can't they make their own
> helmet choice?
>
> Yes, you're right. If they are of legal age they should be able to choose and
> sign a waiver.
>
> >Since I've never played the game outside of some pick-up street >games, I
> >can't tell you first hand observations of which is better. I'm curious, have
> you ever played, Vicki, or are you just being a protective parent in this
> case?
>
> I couldn't skate if my life depended on it. I've got a spectator's wooden
> bench slouch and a hard ass to go with it. This goes beyond protective
> parenting. Besides, my son has always been HIS OWN CHOICE type of guy.
>
> When I watched the NCAA semi final games at the Pond, I knew I was watching
> these guys play at their ultimate best. And to a large extent, though not
> entirely, play beside from stick work was devoid of real unacceptable brutal
> behavior. I don't like to see that type of behavior in any sport. And
> contrary to Neal's claims that sport is not more violent today-- across the
> board, it is. "Basebrawls", Soccer mayhem resulting in deaths, Basketball's
> bad boy antics, Boxing's ear chewings, officials being attacked at sporting
> events, new norms of behavior are replacing the ethical standards sports once
> had.
>
> < And I haven't seen anything that really
> makes me want to jump on the full-shield bandwagon over the half-shield one.
>
> I haven't either. I'm sure we agree that youth players need to wear a full.
> There just isn't enough information out there to KNOW for sure which is
> better. If stick infractions, hitting from behind, etc. were eliminated,
> these injuries would decrease. Very frankly, if I were a player I wouldn't
> want to wear a full either. It's a liability thing now more than ever. That
> in itself has changed the sport forever, beside from the other variables:
> increased speed, weight and height of players, etc. makes it a more risky
> game. I'm on the bandwagon against unnecessary brutal intent to injure
> behavior-- a kind of ROAD RAGE on ice behavior.
>
> There is no American study on the full versus the half that I'm aware of. I
> would like to see one instituted in the American junior leagues, as the NCAA
> suggests . Right now, I'd agree that until the definitive verdict is in on
> which is better, over agers should be able to wear the mask of their choice.
> Still, Ben, the  information regarding facial and dental injuries is
> conclusive. Regarding concussion, you read, despite having every protection
> it happens anyway. In regard to lessening the occurrence of concussions, the
> easiest and least expensive route would be to eliminate illegal play by
> enforcing the rules and making penalties fit the deed.
>
> See, I'm really not a "nutbar" after all.
>
> Vicki
>
> HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
> [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
 
--
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Derek Michael Hodgins
Columbia Design, Co.
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http://www.cyberhole.com
 
Syracuse University
Student-Aerospace Engineering
SU Ice Hockey Club
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HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
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