Why does Ovechkin have to wear a full shield, but Olesz doesn't?

I think their birthdays may be a month or so apart.

Ovechkin is 18 years old. There aren't any rules to my knowledge forcing him to wear a cage. Perhaps it is his choice?

Ovechkin is 18 years old. There aren't any rules to my knowledge forcing him to wear a cage. Perhaps it is his choice?

And a good one!

That's odd, because I think he wears a half-shield in the RSL.

It could be a team policy.

I think it should be obligation to wear a half-shield in the NHL. The play would be safer for the eyes, we all know what happend to B. Berard. If he had weared a half-shield ....

Guys like Stevens think they are bad boys when they don't wear one,.... but it's just stupid!

Berard wears a half-shild now.

A shield may not have prevented Berard's injury.

Berard wears a half-shild now.

The visor Berard wears now is one that is much closer to his face than a normal visor is. If Berard was wearing a normal visor when Hossa's stick cut his eye, he might have lost the entire eye, nevermind be able to play hockey again.

I say we should just do without helmets altogether - especially those lame nike ones.

If Olesz was wearing a full shield i doubt the Phaneuf hit would have busted his cheek and orbital bones.

I don't understand what the big deal with a full facemask is. I wear one when I play hockey, I wear the cage, which lets me see the play just fine. I've never had a problem where I felt I lost sight of anything because of my face mask. And I'm sure as hell more confident going into a corner cause of it.

If Olesz was wearing a full shield i doubt the Phaneuf hit would have busted his cheek and orbital bones.

...But the impact of the face mask would have likely shattered his jaw.

lucky for me I'm a goalie and don't have to worry about debates such as these on face masks or no face masks.

well I guess if If this was years and years ago I'd be in a debate on it but that was then and this is now.

anyways I say let the player go with what's more comfortable for them, what do they prefer? simple as that as long as they know the risks involved with their choice.