Report: No full face-shields for NHL players

According to a report from Stephen When of the Associated Press and formerly of NHL.com, NHL players will NOT be expected to wear full face-shields when play resumes later this summer.

From Whyno:

NHL players won’t be expected to wear full face shields if games resume this summer, though there could be plenty of covered faces around them.

Equipment changes have not been a focus of return-to-play negotiations between the league and players’ union, according to a person with knowledge of those talks. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no agreement has been reached, said the emphasis has been on testing and other off-ice safety precautions.

Because players are expected to be tested daily , there isn’t expected to be additional on-ice equipment required for practices and games. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly additionally said he didn’t anticipate any mandatory equipment changes to ensure player safety.

Interestingly enough, Bauer Hockey released a prototype yesterday of a new face-shield they call “CONCEPT 3 SPLASH GUARD.”

Check it out:

Some details from Bauer:

CONCEPT 3 SPLASH GUARD with the BAUER Concept 3 player face mask to provide additional splash protection, while allowing the player to focus on their game. This new product is designed to enhance coverage around the mouth and maintain a high level of vision and breathability. The BAUER Concept 3 Splash Guard is scheduled to be available at authorized BAUER retail locations and Bauer.com in August. 

Guard can also be cleaned and disinfected for re-use.

Bauer has reportedly spoken with the league and teams about medical-grade off-ice visors that coaches, executives, team personnel and others could wear. Product vice president Craig Desjardins said the visor, which can attach to the brim of a baseball cap, is “feather light” despite being three times thicker than a medical shield and meeting the American National Standards Institute regulation for preventing droplets.

“There’s been a lot of interest,” Bauer vice president of global marketing Mary-Kay Messier said. “Craig and I have actually had a lot of calls with NHL teams as they consider how to bring back their teams — their entire teams and everyone that surrounds them — safely, particularly in situations where they’re looking at being hub cities where there’ll be a lot of interaction.”