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Goalie Masks - Updated BMHL Rule for Protective Plastic Shields aka Danglers
HEO Rules and Regulations
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7.
- a. While on the ice, all players and goalkeepers, registered for Minor Hockey within HEO are required to wear CSA approved facial protectors and a BNQ approved throat protector. In addition, a goaltender must wear a neck protector except in the case where a goalie mask has the long extended protection built into the mask and is CSA approved. All other goaltender must have a throat protector affixed to the helmet/face masks. This regulation applies to all levels within the HEO Minor. Junior Hockey Leagues are given the option of wearing approved throat protectors.
BMHL Rules and Regulations
Although HC and HEO no longer requires that goalies wear the protective plastic shields known as Danglers (that hang just below the masks) for some of the new CSA approved models of masks equipped with elongated neck protection, the BMHL governance committee has decided to keep the protective shields mandatory for the U13 and younger groups regardless of the type of mask used. For the U15 and older groups, any goalie using one of the new CSA approved models of masks equipped with elongated neck protection can play without the protective plastic shield dangler. For U15 and older goalies using older style of masks they are still subject to the previous mandatory rule of wearing the plastic shield dangler.
For the U13 and younger groups we are dealing with less experienced goalies, especially the ones being rotated through teams without a dedicated netminder. These goalies are often less stable on their skates and end up in awkward situations or positions in the crease and are more likely to go down on the ice in the prone position trying to cover pucks putting themselves at greater risk to errant sticks or skates. They are also more likely to be surprised by unexpected shots then the older goalies. So the plastic shield danglers provide a necessary extra layer of protection for these age groups.
For the U15 and older groups the goalies are more experienced at protecting themselves, tend to stay more upright on their pads when they go down to the ice so are at less of a risk to errant sticks or skates during goalmouth scrambles. Although the larger danglers worn at these age groups can be more cumbersome when moving ones head side to side or trying to look down to find a loose puck they still do offer another layer of protection against the harder shots being faced. So although the BMHL is longer making it mandatory for the U15 and older goalies to wear the protective shield danglers provided they are wearing a new CSA approved mask with elongated neck protection, the BMHL still recommends their use as an extra layer of neck protection.