I remember for the '92-93 season the NHL allowed players the option of wearing a helmet or not. One Hab, Todd Ewen foolishly took his helmet off for a few games. So, I would guess he would be the last helmetless Hab
I remember Berenson wore one. Didn't Jean-Claude Tremblay wear one ? Would that be before Berenson ?
I can't remember if JC always wore one or began at some point during the late 60's, I believe Bobby Rousseau came into the league without one then began wearing it after a year or 2.
On November 30th, 1966 in a game against Toronto,(JC) Tremblay and teammate Bobby Rousseau became the first players to permanently wear a helmet. Unfortunately, this helped contribute at the time to Tremblay’s soft image.
On November 30th, 1966 in a game against Toronto,(JC) Tremblay and teammate Bobby Rousseau became the first players to permanently wear a helmet. Unfortunately, this helped contribute at the time to Tremblay’s soft image.
Funny they say that, Berenson was on the team before that and could be considered a regular in that he played the full 64-65 and I'm sure that he wore the helmet.
Funny they say that, Berenson was on the team before that and could be considered a regular in that he played the full 64-65 and I'm sure that he wore the helmet.
It's definitely possible mcphee, the 64-65 season was a bit before my time. My guess would have been Tremblay from watching old footage of the Habs.
For the hell of it I tried looking it up, and that site was the first one I came across.
Edit: I just quickly called my uncle who is also a huge Hab fan. He seems to agree with you and say Berenson was the first.
It's definitely possible mcphee, the 64-65 season was a bit before my time. My guess would have been Tremblay from watching old footage of the Habs.
For the hell of it I tried looking it up, and that site was the first one I came across.
Edit: I just quickly called my uncle who is also a huge Hab fan. He seems to agree with you and say Berenson was the first.
I vaguely remember the talk about Berenson being one of the rare helmeted guys, there was a guy who came up with Boston and went on to the North Stars, might have been their first captain, Charlie Burns, also a product of the NCAA. In those days the few NCAA guys wore the helmets. My guess is that there were previous guys who wore them after specific injuries.
I vaguely remember the talk about Berenson being one of the rare helmeted guys, there was a guy who came up with Boston and went on to the North Stars, might have been their first captain, Charlie Burns, also a product of the NCAA. In those days the few NCAA guys wore the helmets. My guess is that there were previous guys who wore them after specific injuries.
I remember reading that not long after Bill Masterton died of a head injury in the late 60's. That it became mandatory for all college and junior players to wear helmets. Plus from looking at the footage from that time period there seemed to be a handful of NHL players wearing helmets.
Edit: Bill Masterton's injury was on January 13, 1968. He died 48 hours later.
I also looked up Charlie Burns, how you remember these names off the top of your head baffles me.
While playing junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros, Charlie Burns suffered a fractured skull that almost ended his career. But he underwent surgery to have a metal plate inserted in his head and made a courageous comeback, wearing a heavily padded helmet in all games and practices during his professional hockey career until he was 38.
I remember reading that not long after Bill Masterton died of a head injury in the late 60's. That it became mandatory for all college and junior players to wear helmets. Plus from looking at the footage from that time period there seemed to be a handful of NHL players wearing helmets.
Edit: Bill Masterton's injury was on January 13, 1968. He died 48 hours later.
I also looked up Charlie Burns, how you remember these names off the top of your head baffles me.
While playing junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros, Charlie Burns suffered a fractured skull that almost ended his career. But he underwent surgery to have a metal plate inserted in his head and made a courageous comeback, wearing a heavily padded helmet in all games and practices during his professional hockey career until he was 38.
It's hockey cards. The pictures and info stuck with me. I couldn't forget this stuff if I wanted to. I thought Burns was a coillege guy for some reason. Oh well.
It's hockey cards. The pictures and info stuck with me. I couldn't forget this stuff if I wanted to. I thought Burns was a coillege guy for some reason. Oh well.
That is VERY true. Being in my 20's, it's the early to mid 90's cards I remember but it is very true, the name sticks to the image sticks to the info on the back of the card and you build yourself a memory for it.
