Head/Mask Saves (Hockey Goaltending)?

If you're goaltending in hockey and you stop the puck with your head (on the hardest slapshot possible), what are the chances of an injury from the impact of the shot? Would the NHL or any hockey league allow a goalie to put rubber/foam rubber/some kind of cushion on the wiring of his mask to cushion the impact? I'm asking because if a shot is coming over your shoulder (when you're the goalie) then it's easier to just tilt your head to either side to stop the puck, however I'm not sure how safe that is.





Thanks for the info.Head/Mask Saves (Hockey Goaltending)?
As a goalie, I use my head to stop shots all the time aand watch an NHL game and you will see they do it too. The mask is already designed to absorb the impact and spread the force over the surface of the helmet. However, a hard enough shot can cause a concussion nd any shot to the mask stings a bit.


As for the idea of foam padding on the mask, that would not ever happen as it would obstruct the view the Goalie has through the mask and that is more dangerous than the shot hitting the mask.Head/Mask Saves (Hockey Goaltending)?
Um, do you know what happens to vision when you increase the diameter of the bars on the mask? It makes it harder to see.
Us refs are told to stop play if the goalie takes one to the head to check he's ok. If a goalie purposefully puts his head in the way we have discretion whether to stop play or not, as if he gets hurt it's his own fault.


Any changes to equipment (including Giggy's body armour) invalidates the insurance of everyone on the ice and is therefore illegal.
watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6No85gH_8鈥?/a>
I don't think putting a cushion on the mask is such a cool idea.
yea dude if you take it to the head o well but practice raising your shoulder to stop those shots, or maybe your glove or blocker, just an idea. ive been a goalie for 10 years and ive had my bell rung a few times you'll be alright.





dont put padding on your helmet thats gay and its against the rules
I never flinch from a hard shot to the face. The mask is designed to take the shot best if you take it square. If you flinch the players will pick up on it and you can be guaranteed to see a lot more face shots as well.





A good slapshot will ring your bell and in my helmet it leaves my ears ringing from the sound. I have a good dent on one of my wires too. My mask will come back far enough that I feel the impact on my nose but just a little bit. The trick is to reorient quickly because you have no idea where the rebound went.





What kind of sissy would duck during a hockey game? I would be ashamed to let the puck go in because I ducked.
Unless you are playing in a beer-league you are not allowed to put anything on a helmet, including stickers, tape, markers, ect. All minor and pro hockey has this rule. The reason is once the manufacture of the helmet / mask have determined the item is safe, it gets a stamp (called CSA in Canada) that says it meets minimum saftey standards for use in hockey. Therfore, padding on the mask is not allowed.





As you get into higher levels of hockey the shots become much harder. Most Midget (high school) aged players can shoot the puck at about 100 km/h. Taking one of those in the head will hurt, and if you take 2 or 3 over the course of a week, you will get a concusion. You need to teach yourself how to make those saves without the use of your mask when you are young so that it does not become habit when you are older. The other thing is that once you take your eyes off the puck it becomes more difficult to save, and once you are facing hard fast shots you will not be able to turn your head in time. Saving a puck with your mask or helmet should only be done by accident - never on purpose. Hope that helps.
idk