In a stunning and first of its kind move in the Canadian Junior Hockey League system, the Ontario Junior Hockey League has voted to go to a full face shield for all players beginning in the 2017-2018 season.
In a release issued by the OJHL the following was said;
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) Annual General Meeting (AGM) wrapped up this past weekend with the OJHL Board of Governors voting to implement full facial protection beginning with the 2017-18 season.
With player safety at the forefront of the discussion, the OJHL becomes the first member league in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) to make full facemasks mandatory for their players. Implementation of the new initiative will begin with the start of the 2017-18 season and is aimed at reducing facial injuries to virtually zero.
“Player safety at the junior level of the game of hockey is constantly being monitored and reviewed, and is a never-ending process,” said OJHL Commissioner Marty Savoy. “The Governors of the OJHL feel that their decision to move toward full facial protection is a decision that will improve the overall safety of our most important assets; the players of our league.”
“We have seen too many of our players suffer severe facial injuries wearing the half-shield,” added OJHL Chairman Scott McCrory. “We realize that moving toward full facial protection is a major change in philosophy, but it has been one that we have been discussing and studying for the past number of years. The OJHL is a development league that moves players on to the next level of our great game and I applaud our Governors for taking a leading role in player safety.”
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
