Losing the face mask/bird cage seems like a no-brainier to me because it would clean up the game of college hockey and cut down on unnecessary injuries. There is way to much stick work in the game of college hockey a some of it can be blame on "the mask."
Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff --- The rules committee will make a decision on those issues at their meeting in Indianapolis on June 6-8.
However, Whitehead pointed out that their recommendation on the three-quarter shield will have to be approved by the NCAA’s Committee of Competitive Safeguards.
The others won’t have to be approved by any other committees.
Whitehead likes the idea of going to the three-quarter shield for a number of reasons.
First, he said the players will have better peripheral vision, which could reduce the number of concussions.
“They won’t be losing the puck in their skates and looking down for it as much,” said Whitehead, noting that players are more vulnerable when they’re searching for the puck.
He also said players won’t be playing with as much reckless abandon and getting their sticks up.
Mick Hatten beat writer of the SCSU Huskies wrote an article on this subject this past week and this is what SCSU head hockey coach Bob Motzko had to say on the subject, it would appear that there is a consensus among college hockey coaches and players that they want to get rid of the awkward full cages. Actually, from what I have read in the past it's that's been the consensus for a while now.
“I think everyone in college hockey is unanimous in favor of it,” St. Cloud State men’s head coach Bob Motzko said. “It’s going to be overwhelming to go in that direction. They did a survey of the players this year and the players want to do it.I have never understood why it's okay for the USHL and the NAHL to be able to wear the full cage while the NCAA players have to play down with full cage/face mask. This rule makes no sense to me what-so-ever.
