Just about every NHL player you see in 2021 will have a clear protective visor attached to their helmet. This is to help cover their eyes and upper part of the face and protect it from errant sticks and pucks. However, it’s still possible to suffer a serious injury while wearing a visor.
Current NHL rules state that all players are required to wear a visor during games unless they had played at least 25 games in the league prior to the start of the 2013/14 season.
Who Invented the Ice Hockey Visor?
Kenneth William Clay of British Columbia is credited with inventing the first type of ice hockey visor in 1964 following a serious eye injury caused by a high stick during a game. Clay lost the sight in his left while playing for the Vanderhoof Bears eye and developed his new piece of equipment after cutting goalie masks in half and experimenting with the top portion of the mask.
What is a Visor Made of?
A visor is a clear impact-resistant shield which allows players to see through it without impairing their vision. Modern-day visors are made of strong, lightweight shatter-free plastic and/or polycarbonate material and are designed to deflect and absorb impacts by bending rather than breaking.
They typically come with anti-fogging and anti-scratch coatings for clear vision during the heat of the action. To become officially certified by the Hockey Equipment Certification council (HECC) a visor must pass a series of rigorous tests to prove it can properly resist impact and help prevent serious injury to a player’s face.
Take a look at this side-profile Instagram photo of Jason Robertson wearing a visor:
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When Did the Visor Rule Come into the NHL?
The American Hockey League (AHL) made visors mandatory in 2006/07 but the NHL didn’t introduce the rule until 2013. It stated that it was necessary for all players entering the league thereafter to wear one while playing. If a player had appeared in a minimum of 25 NHL games when the rule came into effect he wasn’t required to wear a visor.
Therefore, there are still several players in the league who aren’t required to wear a visor and don’t wear one. For interest sake, the league made helmets mandatory for players in 1979 and also used a similar rule which allowed those already in the league to play without one. Craig MacTavish was the last NHL player hit the ice without a helmet in 1997.
When Was the First Visor Worn in an NHL Game?
Since the NHL’s visor rule came into effect at the beginning of the 2013-14 season this meant numerous players began to wear one at the same time.
The first pro hockey player to try a visor out was Greg Neeld in the 1970s. Neeld had lost vision in an eye earlier in his career while playing for the Toronto Marlboros Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team in December, 1973. He was selected 71st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Amateur as well as 70th overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the World Hockey Association (WHA) Draft the same year.
However, Neeld wasn’t able to play in the NHL due to a rule that required players to have sight in both eyes. He would go on to play 17 games for the Toronto Toros of the WHA as well as compete in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and International Hockey League (IHL).
What Is the NHL’s Rule on Wearing Visors?
The official NHL rule concerning visors states that the visor must be properly attached to the helmet to provide adequate eye protection. If a player is spotted wearing the visor incorrectly by an on-ice official they must leave the ice and won’t be able to return until the visor is correctly attached to the helmet and worn in the proper manner.
If a player returns to the ice and is caught wearing the visor incorrectly again in the same game he’ll receive a minor penalty. And speaking of on-ice officials, they also need to wear a visor in the NHL and most pro leagues around the world. All NHL officials who joined the league after 2006 are mandated to wear the protection.
In the past, players often removed their helmets before an on-ice fight to protect their fists from connecting with the opponent’s visor. However, the NHL has since created a rule which results in a minor penalty for any player who removes his helmet before an altercation.
Do NHL Players Have to Wear a Visor During Warm-Up?
While NHL players are required to wear a visor at all times during a game they aren’t required to wear one during pre-game warmups. However, some players may choose to do so since it’s not uncommon for injuries to occur during warmups.
Can NHL Players Wear a Cage?
According to current NHL rules, all players other than netminders must wear a visor for facial protection rather than a wire cage. However, some amateur and college leagues across the world require players to wear full facial protection which includes a cage or full visor. There are exceptions to the rule in the NHL as a player is allowed to wear a cage or combination visor/cage if they’re suffering or recovering from a recent facial injury.
What is the Difference Between a Cage and a Visor?
The major difference between a cage and a visor is that a cage covers the entire face and is made of steel, metal or a material of similar strength. A visor is basically a clear piece of plastic or polycarbonate which covers the upper portion of the face. In fact, the style of visors worn by NHL players are technically half visors as there are also full-face models available.
Can You Wear a Full-Face Visor?
Young hockey players are allowed and encouraged to wear full facial visors, commonly known as a fishbowl, but some leagues still insist on cages instead. A full-face visor basically covers the face right down to the below the chin, but like the cage, it’s not allowed in the NHL unless a player is recovering from a recent facial injury.
Final Thoughts
The NHL requires visors to be worn to help reduce the number and seriousness of injuries to the eyes and upper facial area. The rule has helped cut down on these types of injuries even though pucks and sticks can still cause damage by going underneath the piece of equipment.
It’s highly unlikely that the league will mandate full facial protection in the near future though since hockey is in the business of entertaining people and fans prefer to be able to recognize the individual players.
Ian is an experienced ice hockey writer with a passion for the game. He has been covering hockey for over 25 years and has contributed to various publications. He covers all aspects of the sport, from NHL rules to in-depth analysis of the game as well as previews. Ian is also an avid fan who attends numerous games and has played hockey regularly since moving to Canada at the age of 10.