In 1998, the league banned dark colored visors because medical personnel could not see a player’s eyes once they attended to him on the field when an injury would occur, especially if the player was knocked out or concussed.

Played 30 games in the 1967–68 NHL season with the Minnesota North Stars and is the only player in NHL history to be killed as a direct result of an on-ice incident; the NHL annually awards the Bill Masterton Trophy in his honour, and the North Stars retired his number 19. Defenceman who played for Spartak Moscow.

and around the NHL, have experienced wearing a full visor or cage in some capacity. Everyone in the NCAA is required to wear one, and all players grow up with a full shield until at least the bantam level. The full facemask usually isn’t permitted in the pros unless medically necessary, as in Kuraly’s case.

Some of these veterans who still go without a visor include recognizable stars such as Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan O’Reilly.

“They throw themselves into pucks or into plays, and carry their stick in such a way that they create hazards and dangers on the ice, not only to themselves but to others as well. There is an increased risk of catastrophic injury for kids wearing a full cage as opposed to a visor.”

Although often a target of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans attend games primarily to see fights. Those who defend fighting in hockey say that it helps deter other types of rough play, allows teams to protect their star players, and creates a sense of solidarity among teammates.

Full facial protection is mandatory in many amateur leagues and in North America, full face cages, full shields, or shield and cage combination are mandatory in high school hockey, college hockey, and for all players under the age of 18.

Jacques Plante

1959

Bill Masterton

An official may remove the player taking the face-off if the player or any players from the same team attempt to gain an unfair advantage during the face-off (called a face-off violation). When a player is removed, one of the teammates not originally taking the face-off is required to take the face-off.

The official rule by the National Hockey League is as follows: NHL Rule 9.5. The NHL decided to newly enforce uniform policies starting with the 2013–14 season. As a result, players are not allowed to tuck their jerseys into their pants, expose their elbow pads, or make any other modifications to their jerseys.

Players are not permitted to tuck their jersey into their pants in such a manner where the top padding of the pant and/or additional body protection (affixed to the pant or affixed to the player’s body) is exposed outside the jersey.

Celly: celebration following a goal.

National Hockey League

List of oldest National Hockey League players

• Gordie Howe, pictured here in 1966, played his final NHL game at 52.
• Lester Patrick served as a replacement goaltender in the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals.
• Zdeno Chara has been the oldest active NHL player since July 2019.
• Joe Thornton is the second-oldest active player in the NHL.

Stanley Cup droughts

The Montreal Canadiens have the most series wins by a team in the Stanley Cup Finals, with 23 wins.

Gretzky (early and late 1981) and Maurice Richard (early and late 1944) had two five-goal games in the same calendar year, across two NHL seasons. Ian Turnbull is the only defenseman who has scored five goals in a game, doing so in February 1977.

As centre and team captain, Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories (in the 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, and 1987–88 seasons).

Jack Marshall

Wayne Gretzky

How the Detroit Red Wings’ back-to-back Stanley Cups rank in NHL history. The 1996-97 Wings finished off their Cup — the first for Detroit since 1955 — with a sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers on June 7, 1997. And 374 days later, they won a second, sweeping the Washington Capitals on June 16, 1998.

Montreal Canadiens