Hockey players at the Junior B and Junior C levels in Nova Scotia are now required to wear full facial protection with their helmets.
Hockey Canada mandated the change for all levels below Junior A beginning August 1, 2020.
But, Hockey Nova Scotia approved the regulation change for the upcoming season after receiving support from a majority of teams in the Junior B and Junior C leagues.
Governor of the Liverpool Privateers Hockey Club, Jim Bottomley, says he would’ve liked to see more consultation happen between teams and Hockey Canada.
He feels the change may be safer but will change a few players’ attitudes.
“Hockey is changing so much and it is certainly getting softer but the skill level and speed has picked up. I just find with the full cage, you’ll have some guys to them that will be the cage of courage. Some guys will feel six feet taller probably.”
“The kids are all coming up through high school and midget with a full cage,” adds Bottomley.
“The kids going down to play NCAA, they all have to wear a cage. A lot of the changes you don’t like at first when they come, but after a while everything fits into place.”
Hockey Canada has established a $1,000 incentive for teams who buy full face shields this season.
Bottomley says the next steps are to discuss the change with head referees to see how it will impact penalties.
“Is this going to eliminate fighting completely? Is it a gross misconduct if two guys get in a fight and one of them takes their helmet off? It certainly is going to change the game that way and the whole idea with hockey, I think, over the years is to eliminate fighting completely and this will certainly add to it.”
