helmets

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by Rich

This became an emphasis in hockey when a player lost his footing during a fight and ended up hitting his head on the ice.

I don't know the specific details, but I believe that removing your own helmet during a fight is a penalty at all levels now, up through the NHL.

According to Wikipedia: It was not until the death of Bill Masterton that the stigma started to change. On January 13, 1968 in a game between the Minnesota North Stars and Oakland Seals, two Seals' players, Larry Cahan and Ron Harris, hit Masterton, sending him flying. Masterton's head hit the ice hard. With blood running from his nose and ears, he was rushed to the hospital. Four doctors worked for 30 hours to try to save him, but were unsuccessful as he died of "massive brain injury". Eleven years later, the NHL mandated the use of helmets. By that time, 70% of players were already wearing them.

I thought I remembered seeing somewhere within all the different rule sets, that throughout the course of a game, the helmet is not to be removed on purpose (except during intermissions or to treat an injury).