Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this whole Connor Bedard full face mask thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. So, I started digging into why this young hockey player, Bedard, has to wear a full face mask. Turns out, there’s this rulebook from the IIHF, the 2022-23 one, Rule 202 to be exact. It says that players under 18 gotta wear a cage or a full visor to protect their faces. And since Bedard is just 17, he’s gotta follow that rule.
Now, I was wondering, why do some hockey players choose not to wear these masks? I mean, they seem pretty important for safety, right? Well, from what I gathered, some players think these masks mess with their vision. They say it’s harder to see the puck and keep track of the game. Others think the masks make it tough to breathe comfortably while they’re skating around.
Then I got to thinking about how we, as fans, are kinda used to not seeing some players’ faces. Like, NHL goalies have been wearing masks since 1959! And there were those fan favorites like Curtis Joseph and Martin Brodeur, whose faces were always covered up.
- Started looking into why Bedard wears a full face mask.
- Found out about IIHF Rule 202 requiring under-18 players to wear facial protection.
- Looked into why some players don’t like wearing masks.
- Considered how fans are used to masked players, like NHL goalies.
- Took note of Bedard’s new deal with Fanatics.
- Considered about league rule for face injury.
I also saw that Bedard signed some sort of deal with Fanatics. They announced it on a Wednesday, and it seems like a big deal. It’s some exclusive agreement thing. They must see a lot of potential in him, huh?
And about the rule book, it’s not just about being under 18. There’s a section, Section 3 I think, that talks about special masks for players who’ve had face injuries. They can wear a special kind of mask approved by the league. I guess that makes sense, you gotta protect those injuries, right?
So, that’s basically what I’ve been up to. Trying to figure out all this stuff about hockey rules, player safety, and why we see what we see on the ice. It’s pretty interesting when you start digging into it, you know?
Anyway, that’s my little adventure into the world of hockey masks and rules. Hope you found it as interesting as I did!
