Initial Use

• In 1928, George Owen of the Boston Bruins became the first player ever recorded to have worn a helmet during a professional hockey game. The helmet, however, was not designed specifically for hockey; Owen was a former college football player, and he wore his leather football helmet for added protection.
  
  

History

• Helmets were often used as a regular piece of protective equipment in years prior to the 1979 rule change. Some players wore helmets in the 1930s and '40s, but those who did were ridiculed in much the same way players who wore visors were in the early 21st century. Even after the 1968 on-ice death of Bill Masterton, it took 11 years before helmets were mandated at the NHL level.
  
  

Protection and Comfort

• The hockey helmet has undergone many changes to improve comfort over the years. The two-piece helmet allows an adjustable fit specific to the individual player. Helmets also come with strategically placed vents to increase air flow and keep the player cool. The layer of protective foam inside the helmet (usually at least 5/8 inch thick) provides added comfort in addition to protection against injury. As an added protective feature, most helmets now come with plastic ear protection on both sides.
  
  

Modern Technology

• In October 1999, Alyn McCauley of the Toronto Maple Leafs returned to the NHL wearing a unique one-piece helmet specifically designed to prevent concussions. The helmet, called the Carbster, was lighter and more protective than traditional helmets and was made partially from Kevlar. It also had a double-padding system--one for protection, and one for a customized fit. The Carbster was the first of its kind in the NHL, and many helmets have followed using similar technology.
  
  

Problems

• Current issues with helmets in professional and semi-pro hockey have more to do with how they are used than their physical construction. Players commonly wear helmets with loose chin-straps, resulting in the helmet falling off or shifting out of position rather than protecting the head during a hit or a fall. There has also been much criticism in the 21st century about players intentionally removing helmets during fights, which often results in head injuries when the players fall to the ice.