Is full-face helmet mandatory in ice hockey?

When ice hockey can be played again is currently unclear. But to be able to start as early as possible, there is now an unusual idea.

Landkreis - Mario Sorsak has almost 500 missions in the Bayernliga. The striker of the ESC Dorfen did not appear with an exorbitant goal rate during this time, but with his equipment. For years, the now 34-year-old has been wearing a full-face helmet that is rather frowned upon in the ice hockey scene. Even after facial injuries, when additional protection is required, most players rely on the grid rather than the plexiglass solution.

The latter could become standard equipment in the coming season. After all, in corona times it is important to minimize the risk of infection, and a full-face helmet would be an advantage for this. A task force led by Garmisch-Partenkirchener Franz Reindl, President of the German Ice Hockey Federation, raised this idea. "A full visor could help us get into training and game operations sooner," said Reindl recently at Sky Sport News HD. The equipment company Bauer is currently developing a suitable model. The tricky question is how the player gets air. So far, the ventilation slots have been applied to the mouth - and therefore not effective in terms of infection protection. In addition, the visors should not tarnish.

The reactions of the players are different

However, if the problems are solved and the full visor helmet becomes compulsory, the players from the region could definitely get used to it. "I'm not a fan of it, I would rather play without a visor. But if it is prescribed, then that's just the way it is, ”says Martin Andrä, captain of the Peißenberg“ ice hackers ”and former EC Peiting player. "That would of course be a change, but if it is necessary to practice our sport, I will do it," says Marco Pfleger. 28-year-old Peißenberger, who scored 31 goals in 52 games for the Tölzer Löwen in the DEL2 last season, can also imagine running up with a plexiglass pane that protects the entire face.

Manfred Guggemos, the captain of the national league team SC Forst, is rather skeptical. He still sees many unsolved problems: “Does the helmet really reduce the risk of infection on ice? Then what's in the cabin? We sit closely together and the air exchange is not as easy as in the big stadium, ”said Guggemos.

If necessary, also with a mask on the gang

Sebastian Buchwieser, coach of the top division club EC Peiting, has been somewhat undecided about “full visor helmets”, from whom there have recently been positive reports because top scorer Nardo Nagtzaam remains. "I am not a virologist and have no idea whether such a helmet will work," says the coach. "If you make it a condition, then we wear it, and I would also put myself in the hall with a face mask," says Buchwieser. He would accept certain restrictions to make ice hockey possible even in these unusual times.