Evolution of Hockey: Protective Equipment

With the evolution of the hockey stick, the already dangerous sport of hockey quickly became even more dangerous. Originally hockey players wore little protective gear besides gloves and skates but with better sticks came harder shots and a more fast paced game which caused many injuries. Due to this many players began wearing padding to protect themselves from injury. In 1897 goalkeepers began wearing wicket-keeper's pads to protect their legs from the puck and in 1948 they began experimenting with a "trapper and blocker" which was basically a rectangular piece of leather and a baseball glove. Goalie pads have gone through a number of advancements since then but still maintain their original design and most are still made of leather as they were in 1948. Although by 1948 goalies were pretty well padded, it took goalie Jacques Plante getting a puck to the face in 1959 to allow goalies to wear protective face masks. In 1968 Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars was hit and thrown to the ice causing massive brain trauma and eventually his death. Although Masterton's death did start a movement toward helmet wearing, players were not required to wear helmets until 1979 when the NHL decided to instate mandatory helmet wearing.