It took the NHL until 1979 to mandate helmets and goalie masks for new players. It wasn't until 2013 that eye-protecting visors became mandatory — grandfathered in for veterans, of course. A handful of players still don't wear them.
Broken jaws, smashed noses and concussions haven't led to full face shields or cages in professional men's hockey at any level, either. This week, the death of an American player from a skate blade to the neck during a game in England has reignited the debate over cut-resistant protection and why more players don't wear it.
