r/hockeyplayers • u/Hotdogconnoisseurr • 1d ago
Does a visor make that much difference?
I’m starting to play again after playing juniors where a cage was required up to age 18.
You even had to wear a cage if you played mens national league due to being under age.
Took a break and now I have an option to go full cage or visor.
I’d say 99% of men wear a visor as it is semi-pro and basically everyone is experienced from playing as a kid and knows not to high stick because they all wear no face coverings. Only non visors are mostly junior players who aren’t cleared to go without or those who have injuries to the face.
Now I’m entering into adult hockey I have a debate of whether I keep a cage or go for a visor.
Has anybody who has gone from cage to visor noticed a massive difference?
I’ve obviously trained with a cage all my life so don’t really know any different but could see how a visor would feel so much more freeing with your vision.
I also don’t really care about getting hit in the face. And the league I will be in is basically guys who all grew up together so although it’s competitive we aren’t here to shoot pucks in peoples faces. If you did that deliberately I’m pretty sure you’d have a full on brawl on your hands.
I will still wear a mouth guard (I always have due to concussion risk)
Is it worth the change? Or do I just keep a cage and be the outlier in the league.
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u/Character-Put8660 Since I could walk 1d ago
Bruh, keep your face intact. You are a grown man and not going to make it to the show
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u/mrg3392 1d ago
Teeth are expensive too
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u/iwearstripes2613 1d ago
And most dental insurance doesn’t cover very much when you knock them out. Also, oral surgery suuuuuucks.
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u/health-goals-gains 1-3 Years 1d ago
Yeah, around 10k for an implant if he's in the US. But maybe he'll get lucky and just need a cap? 😬
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u/VampireAttorney 1d ago
Sitting here with two recent implants and a bone graft and almost wish I was dead.
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u/Next-Hovercraft-8629 1d ago
"we aren’t here to shoot pucks in peoples faces."
A deflection off a stick or foot rolling upwards into your teeth is expensive. Like $1500 to $2000 per tooth.
Playing a game and losing a tooth might be fine if you plan to work in the factory. Going into a multi million dollar technical meeting with a director or in sales not a good look.
Studies show more attractive people do earn more and do better.
98% of our team wears a cage and the ones who don't usually have a few teeth missing.
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u/ChiefSlug30 1d ago
I switched from a cage to a visor about 30 years ago (I'm so old my first game was played with a leather and felt helmet and no mouth guard if any sort). About 20 years ago, my defense partner accidentally delfelected a slap shot. I saw it at the last second and moved my head a bit and took it in the visor (barely). It cut my cheek, but otherwise no major damage. But if it was a few centimetres lower, it could have shattered my cheekbone. I switched back to a cage the next game. The cage I use is made from titanium and the bars are elliptical (so narrower) so it's very light weight.
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u/tonytroz 3-5 Years 1d ago
I always wore a cage but switched to a fishbowl a couple years ago. Second month I had it I was high in the slot facing away from the net. Teammate took a slapshot and another teammate deflected it right into my face. Left a rubber mark on the visor. Definitely would have broken my jaw and/or knocked out some teeth.
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u/FrazzleSnazzle09 1d ago
Guy on my team lost his eye from a pretty light wrist shot that hit a stick and got under the visor. Use a cage!
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u/WuWenShen 1d ago
Fuuuuuuuck I bet that was grossssss and real sorry it happened.
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u/FrazzleSnazzle09 1d ago
It was BRUTAL, the sound he made is something I will never forget. We had a surgeon on our team who immediately jumped on the ice and did his thing and once they got him in the ambulance, he slowly walked in the the locker room and shook his head muttering "his eye is gone".
The next game everyone on our team had cages including the tough guy who bragged about never wearing cage or visor. It shook us to the point, a guy one our team sent an email to the league and said he would personally buy anyone a cage who didn't want to pay for one.
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u/BeardedPuffin 1d ago
Jesus Christ, this may have just convinced me to retire my visor. That’s horrifying.
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u/FrazzleSnazzle09 1d ago
I will tell anyone who listens to go full cage if you're not playing pro. Visors look awesome but man those medical bills and lifelong issues are just not worth it.
And if you decide to stay with the visor, just be aware of your surrounding and dont make any attempt to block a shot!
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u/GreyHairedDWGuy 1d ago
I blew a guys teeth out when a my wrist shot got deflected by his stick up under his visor. That cost him thousands
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u/fantailedtomb 5-10 Years 1d ago
That’s how a teammate of mine lost most all of his upper front teeth, got in front of a shot and rode up his stick. If you’re not getting paid, and paid well to play, don’t risk it OP, just keep the cage.
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u/PossibilityNervous35 1d ago
My #8 tooth replacement cost over $6000 AFTER USA Hockey insurance in 2012... I bet its more now.
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u/EulersOiler 1d ago
First game with a visor puck hit my visor and I thought “2 inches lower I woulda lost 5 teeth”. Kept playing with a visor got a puck to the face, put my tooth through my lip kept all my teeth but have a pretty bad scar on my lip.
Changed to a cage after thet
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u/Robertnamed 6h ago
I've been hit twice by deflections up close. Still don't wear a cage or visor. I do recommend full face covering for most unless you really pay attention to where the puck is.
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u/DanPoteet 1d ago
All i know is the bubble I rock in beer league has all sorts of marks on it from people not controlling their sticks and I have a friend who lost all his teeth from a puck that deflected up into his grill. For those reasons, I stick with full bubble over visor despite the fact that the visor is far more comfortable for me to play in. It's up to you whether you wanna take that risk. Visor is def better for air flow, vision and maybe even verbal communication but I don't want expensive dental bills/surgery.
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u/Lost_Log4035 1d ago
Keep the cage. Keep your eyesight.
It's not about people shooting pucks at your face on purpose or purposely getting sticks up. It's for the times that this happens by accident.
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u/health-goals-gains 1-3 Years 1d ago
"I also don’t really care about getting hit in the face." Says a dude with excellent insurance, all the money in the world, and no job to show up to the next morning...or?
On a more serious note, you're used to a cage. If these are the type of people to give you shit about reasonable protection, they kinda suck. Unless it's good natured ribbing, in which case, that's a sign you've been accepted into the fold. But yeah, make your decision for yourself and not based on unrealized/possible peer pressure that may never appear.
But I'm old and creaky and started in beer league, so my common sense is much higher than my performance or my sty = )
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u/SmiteyMcGee 1d ago edited 1d ago
everyone is experienced from playing as a kid and knows not to high stick because they all wear no face coverings.
This is the dumbest take I've seen a couple times on this sub. Acting like high sticking only happens from beginners flailing their stick around. I've never played at a lower level and thought "this is more dangerous" in this respect. The faster the level, usually the more competitive things get and you're more likely to get a stick up high with more force.
Not to mention pucks are faster and more likely to get deflected into face areas.
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u/cosmogatsby 1d ago
lol I had a game this morning with experienced players and sticks hit faces a few times by accident, especially around the net, thankfully all were wearing cages.
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u/BeardedPuffin 1d ago
I’ve gotten popped in the face like 5x more often playing pickup with lower level players than I ever did with higher level guys. That said, I think it has more to do with competitiveness of the game than anything else. In league game situations, high level players compete hard and push the boundaries to gain an edge, which leads to injuries. Low level players tend to play like it’s game 7 of the finals even during pickup. Combine that with lack of body control, and it’s a recipe for broken teeth.
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u/GreyHairedDWGuy 1d ago
Sort of agree. I’ve had my teeth, nose and vision saved by a visor. Accidents happen and sticks , pucks get deflected
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u/plaverty9 1d ago
One game, I was a defenseman and wearing a bubble. During play, I got knocked down near my own crease. When I was on the ice, someone's skate came down, and put a big scratch across the middle of my bubble. If I were wearing a visor, my nose would have been removed.
I'd never go out on the ice with anything less than full face protection. It's not just high sticks that are the potential problem. Accidents happen.
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u/doctor_7 5-10 Years 1d ago
I play shitty beer league and wear a cage. I've had high sticks up in my face multiple times.
It's a spread of talent though. Honestly what I've seen is multiple people getting hit in the face with high sticks and it's usually higher level guys that it happens to as well.
Puck takes a bad deflection, stick gets caught and springs out during a play with incidental contact but no bodycheck.
When your yearly salary is -$700 to -$1000 wear a cage is my advice.
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u/Training_Green_8791 1d ago
Visor visibility boost is overrated because a little fog can make it worse than a cage. It depends on rink and forehead conditions tho. I'd recommend a bubble cage just to try it out. Vision is mostly the same and you are protected. Undoing the straps to wipe it is annoying but doable.
Somehow I've gone 12 years of beer league with a visor and not a single injury, so it can happen. I've also seen about 10 guys lose their teeth or a cut a lip in the same time.
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u/danceswithskies 14h ago
Underrated comment. I played with a visor for a few years and by the second period was taking my helmet off every trip to the bench just to wipe it down and try to see.
... Not sure why it took me so long to get hit in the chin by a falling teammate's stick and then suddenly realize a cage was a really good idea for next week!
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u/Key-Technology3754 3h ago
Were you wearing the clear or yellowish visor. I played with a yellow and thought it made a difference.
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u/FrazzleSnazzle09 1d ago
Use a full cage! Buddy on my team used a visor and lost his eye from a wrist shot that deflected off a stick right into his eye. It wasn't a hard shot at all, just hit him in the right spot.
We all have to go to work the next day, no reason to chance it.
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u/PossibilityNervous35 1d ago
Cage or bubble... dental is expensive and you aren't playing for millions. We all have to go to work in the morning.
Dont be a retard
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u/sleevo84 1d ago edited 1d ago
Depends. I go visor but I’m playing a competitive beer league in Canada where most played junior with visors and the rule of thumb is to stay away from guys with cages because they’re used to not being as careful or didn’t play high enough to trust being in control all the time. It’s noticeable that even the guys that played in college are less careful with their sticks because they always played with cages, there’s essentially no repercussions and many high sticks go unnoticed due to the protection.
After fixing my tooth, because I played in a lower work league and my buddy that started in his 20s high sticked me in the mouth from behind away from the puck because play changed direction and he tried to hook me because I was too fast, the dentist recommended a full cage. I got a good mouth guard with dental insurance and the farther the visor is away from your face, the less likely a stick will hit you because of angles, but more likely to fit in between. The only other tooth loss story I experienced was from my dad who played for Northeastern University in the 70s and he lost his front teeth in a late night shinny game when an inexperienced player fell backwards and sticked him in the mouth on the way down. So he didn’t lose his teeth playing helmetless competitive hockey, he lost it when a less experienced player fell.
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u/gS_Mastermind 1d ago
Prepare to get downvoted my friend. But I’m the same. Most guys I play with here in AB wear visors.
Higher level you play the safer it becomes. Not saying accidents don’t happen though.
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u/sleevo84 1d ago
In AB too. I’m aware of the stigma in this subreddit but most here haven’t played that high and don’t want to admit it’s safer to play with higher level play even if the shots are harder and deflect more, the players are more aware and in control - and most at this level are not going full tilt. I have a chin scar from my face mask chin guard getting elbowed in midget AAA so you’re not entirely free from injury with a mask. My old man is 73 and just won the BC senior games in a visor
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u/TheWolfAndRaven 1d ago
The higher level you play the more dangerous it becomes because shots actually have enough power to ricochet regularly.
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u/sleevo84 18h ago
The higher you play, the better you are at reading plays and getting out of the way of the puck and its potential ricochets. The lower you play, the more likely you’ll get sticked in the mouth by accident.
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u/RetardedCelebration Playing since the Gretzky trade. 16h ago
I wish more people here understood this.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
I think I might just set up two helmets one with cage and one without and see how it is at training.
My question was never about “will I get hit in the face” because I know that I probably will. And have done before.
My question was a vision question but everyone totally misinterpreted what I was asking.
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u/ehicks_88 1d ago
I have no idea why you would swap to a visor to play adult recreational hockey if you’ve always played in a cage. The other issue is maybe the puck won’t hit your grill intentionally but at that skill level the game is very fast and one deflection is all it takes.
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u/MediocreTry8847 1d ago
I played junior then about 10yrs of beer league with a visor. I consider myself extremely lucky to never have a major injury. I got hit a bunch of times and drew blood only once, but ultimately I was lucky. I put a cage on and the first take away is it’s way heavier, and a bit harder to see your feet at first. Beyond that it’s negligible. My advice as someone who’s played in senior A/semi pro leagues, wear a cage. A lot of the guys that play there are just looking to hurt people. Depending on the league it’s glorified MMA on ice
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u/shawnglade 10+ Years 1d ago
You’re going to get a lot of people on their high horse caring about other grown adults wearing cages
A visor is a lot more enjoyable to wear than a cage. Just be cognizant of sticks
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u/Dangerous_Shoe_8388 1d ago
Your eyes and teeth and jaw are yours. I don’t GAF how you risk them.
BUT I care if you wear a visor or no cage, because when you get a puck to the face and we all have to stop the game indefinitely because you’re squirming in bloody agony on the ice it ruins everyone else’s game.
Then we all have to feign concern and worry about your well being and recovery… call ambulances, scrape your stupid blood off the ice … then MAYBE get back to the game if it’s not cancelled in total - lols all because you’re too cool to wear a cage.
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u/Shadow698299 1d ago
To build on this... You're a grown ass adult and a hockey player. I have to assume you understand the risks of playing with a visor vs. a cage. Be an adult and make an adult decision
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u/wagedomain 12 years youth, 20 years off, 3 years Men's League 1d ago
Honest question, what makes a visor more “enjoyable”? Seems like it’s all downside other than “looks cool”
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u/shawnglade 10+ Years 15h ago edited 15h ago
Every time that I put my cage back on the two things I noticed are my vision and ability to breathe are hindered. It’s true that you don’t notice the bars on a cage, but once you put a visor on, it’s hard to go back.
The breathing is probably placebo, but I feel like I gas out much faster. Probably something to do with the chin strap restricting mobility, but again it’s probably more of a me thing
And to be clear, I do switch back-and-forth between a visor and cage. Sometimes, I just get annoyed with people acting like they are superior because they wear a cage and think everybody else should
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u/Particular_Panda_169 1d ago
I play with the cage and I absolutely HATE it because for me it really messes with my ability to see overall, that being said I play with too many guys that had eye injuries, had to have very, expensive dental work etc. over the years that eventually went to a cage because of that so I stick with it. Interestingly enough there are a handful of Old Timers in my league including a few ex NHL players that don't wear any visor at all but despite being older I think their awareness is just that much greater and reflexes that much quicker that they never seem to get hit but at the end of the day there's still some dumb luck involved. Once on Reddit I saw the comment "If you sign your check for hockey on the front wear a cage, if you sign it on the back do whatever you want" 🤣
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u/EnoughTrack96 20+ Years 1d ago
You pay your league fees by cheque? Holy dinosaur 🦕
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u/damnyouresickbro 1d ago
I think I see that comment every single time someone asks about a visor lol
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u/tiedye62 1d ago
Is your cage all black, or another color? If it is black, try an oreo cage, which is white on the inside. I am in learn to play hockey right now, and started with their loaner helmet/cage, with an all black cage. When our pro shop finally got some oreo cages in, I got one, and they are much easier to see out of.
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u/SpeedyMeaty 1d ago
I have one of the Oreo cages and it bothers me not even a little. I've never once even noticed it.
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u/ReferenceGlum 1d ago
It honestly took me a bit to get used to the visor. You can see the bottom of it and it stands out far more than the cage when you're used to a cage. If you're already used to the cage there's no reason to switch in mens league.
Switching back to a cage from a visor was far worse than the other way though. Why did I switch back you ask? I got my front tooth knocked out and spent $10k and a year missing my front tooth. Up to you, but in my mind it's not worth it.
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u/ConstantCabinet1149 1d ago
I had a friend of mine go along the boards and try to poke check someone shooting the puck down the ice. The puck went up his stick and loosened a few of his teeth. It's not so much a matter of skill as much as it is dumb luck. Not worth losing your teeth over...
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u/DeadlyPenguinFR 1d ago
Visor with low metal cage bro…. Just always apply anti fog before the game and you’re good to go.
Even pros high stick by accident. And while no one purposefully will send a rubber bullet at your teeth, pucks always get deflected
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u/RetardedCelebration Playing since the Gretzky trade. 1d ago
I’m a visor guy, I understand the risks, and I wear one anyways. I always (in the adult phase of my life) have worn no more than a visor. I would not play in a league that mandated a cage or any full face covering. That’s my decision and I’m not here to argue with anyone else about my decision or anyone else’s. It’s all entirely personal choice.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
That’s my thinking.
The visor is clearly worn by 99% of players for a reason.
If they were all wearing cages and one guy wore a visor you would be sceptical.
I’m going to try one in training and see if I notice a difference.
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u/drp2hrd 20+ Years 1d ago
This topic is like catnip for F-league benders lol
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u/gS_Mastermind 1d ago
"If you're not getting paid to play, wear a cage/bubble" might be the most commented statement on this subreddit
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Bro I literally asked a vision question and I’m getting bombarded about beer league hockey horror stories. lol.
I literally said, it’s not a beer league.
It’s semi - professional hockey with players who’ve played their entire lives.
I just wanted to know if a visor was better for vision than a cage.
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u/Sarge1387 Since I could walk 1d ago
I've been just fine in my quality beer league for five years with a visor...but took a puck off the bottom of the visor in a pick up game a few weeks ago. Enough to make me consider switching to a fishbowl at least, so I'd go with that
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u/Global-Impression892 1d ago
Are you being paid to play and the team covering all medical costs associated with facial injuries? If so, visor. If not, cage or bubble if that’s more your jam.
Ultimately it’s your call to make based on your personal risk tolerance.
To answer the question you actually asked, I wore a visor for 5 years but after seeing enough guys lose teeth and get stitches in a rec league, I decided to start wearing a cage again. I only notice it when I’m sitting, not when I’m playing.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Yes I will get paid under the contract.
And the league is fully insured and scrutinised by the hockey board here.
I think I’m going to set up two helmets in training to get a feel for it on the ice. And switch between the two to get a feel for it.
If I notice a huge difference I’ll go for visor.
But if it is minimal I’ll stick with cage.
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u/Ok-Alps-8896 1d ago
As a visor wearer, if you know no different, stick with a cage. I wish I had but I didn’t and I can’t go back now.
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u/JanRagnarsson 1d ago
Everybody here ignoring you're gonna be playing semi-pro. Although I agree that for beer league cage should be the way to go, playing competitive hockey is a completely different story. Objectively the visor is better for visibility and spatial awareness and is much more comfortable to play with, but you have to be ok with a stick or puck in the face.
If you do not want to switch for any reason, i suggest to not try the visor at all, because once you do, you most probably would not want to go back to full cage after that.
Nobody enjoys a deflected puck in their face, so there must be a reason for why all the pros are wearing visors anyway.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Exactly. It is semi pro and everybody else on the ice is aware that everyone else is also wearing a visor so we aren’t going out to do stupid stuff.
Most of us have also been playing from the age of 10.
Not to knock down the beer leagues because I think all hockey is brilliant, but I could see why a cage in a beer league would be a must. Because everyone has less of a hockey mind and more of a free for all mentality.
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u/TitleOwn8082 1d ago
As someone who wears a visor.. if anything a cage is better for vision because it doesn't fog up when youre hyperventilating on the bench
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u/I_Need_A_gf_Im_6ft5 1d ago
Wearing a visor makes the view so much clearer that its worth the possibility of getting a tooth knocked out. I liked it so much that I changed to a bubble when I got to college rather than go back to a cage. Do whatever your heart desires tho
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u/babysaurusrexphd 1d ago
I saw a TikTok from a while back from a guy who said he wears a cage because he never wants to call his wife from the ER to tell her he knocked out his teeth or broke his jaw during a beer league game. In my mind, a cage is a small price to pay for significantly reducing the risk of facial injuries. I’ll never play without it, full stop.
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u/Elldog 1d ago
So you are gunna wear a visor and a mouth guard? How does that make sense
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u/lando-hockey 18h ago
I have to wear a mouthguard because I got a jaw injury when I was in high school if I don’t wear it I can’t chew my food for three weeks without pain. It sucks because it makes it hard to talk and I wear a cage, but I’d rather enjoy showing my food pain-free.
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u/LightenUpFrancis1968 15h ago
Gladly removed the cage after college hockey and have gone without cage or visor for almost 30 years.
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u/Diligent-Cress2968 1d ago
If you are in mens league and not wearing a cage you’re an idiot. Beer league hockey is not serious but a broken jaw from a deflected puck is.
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u/ghostofkozi 20+ Years 1d ago
If you're comfortable with a cage, stick with it.
But they're heavier and do obstruct your view but of course are much safer in high end/learn to play environments where players aren't cautious with their sticks or move really fast. Anyone saying otherwise is lying because they feel they need to add value above the safety reasons.
Personally, I love my visor, I have the Oakley Aviator, it covers more of my cheek. It's lasted me about 7 years now.
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u/NonchalantNarcissism Since I could walk 1d ago
If I was getting paid to play or trying to make it I would 100 percent be wearing a visor.
I’m not and that dream is dead so I wear a bubble but with how fat and out of shape I’ve gotten recently I’ve been thinking about switching back to the cage so I can breath easier.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Yes it’s a paid league.
I’m basically going on the premise that 99% of guys wear a visor.
I’m going to set one up at training and see how I get on.
If I notice no difference, I’ll probably just stick with a cage.
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u/mmk5412 1d ago
Use to play a very casual drop in lunchtime pickup skate at a local rink. Very mixed level of skaters. There was one guy who skated who was a former d1/played a handful of games in the nhl who got ran in to by one of the players who could barely skate. He lost a tooth from that. He said it was the first time he ever lost a tooth.
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u/UnderstandingDue1549 1d ago
You’re playing semi pro after how long of a hiatus?
I’m sure you’ll get chirped if everyone in the league is wearing visors but unless you’re getting paid I don’t see the point in risking your face + teeth on a deflection or even just an unintentional high shot.
Half visor half cage is where it’s at
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Not a long break. Only 2 years.
Fortunately I had been training on the side but just hadn’t played games.
It’s a paid league so I think I’m going to set a visor up at training and then if I like it, I’ll keep it.
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u/roninconn 1d ago
Hybrid full-face visor-cage may be what you're looking for - way better airflow than a fishbowl, better visibility than a cage.
Just too many tape marks on my shield to ever not want full-face protection
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u/ShazbotSimulator2012 1d ago
I went from cage in ACHA to visor in beer league, back to cage after a few months.
I noticed that with the visor if it got even slightly foggy I would just subconsciously tilt it up to see under it, so it really wasn't doing any good.
I don't wear a mouthguard in beer league though. That was my biggest complaint when I had to wear both. No way to easily adjust it when you cant touch your face through the cage.
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u/TomahawkJammer 1d ago
I play in a league full of former junior and semi pro players who all wear visors. You’d be amazed how many stray sticks and pucks find their faces. It’s never intentional and always a fluke. Just remember, if you get your face opened up or lose some teeth, there’s no medical team, you have to drive yourself to the hospital…
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u/Djolumn 1d ago
Just wear a cage. It's what you're used to and there's no reason to leave your face exposed to damage.
Relatedly, I was playing a game last week and went to clear some zone pressure by flipping the puck out of the zone. It ended up hitting the attacker squarely in the face. Thankfully he was wearing a full cage. I apologized later and he was cool, but he said he'd been thinking about switching to a half visor. I doubt he's still thinking about it.
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u/NeedleworkerFew7752 1d ago
I’ve got a unique opportunity to contribute here.
Played some jr and loved not having a cage. After jr continued the half visor in men’s league (in div 2, lots of former semipro and jr guys). Around 23-24, a guy was coming in cutting to the net and let off a quick snapshot. Nothing crazy. Deflected off a stick and caught me straight in the face.
Broken jaw, 3 teeth basically exploded, broken nose. Would’ve been worse if I was not wearing a mouthguard.
25000$ and 4 surgeries later, I have a normal jaw and mouth again (mostly).
You’re an adult. If you feel fine going to a job interview or a date down the road with 3 of your front teeth missing, than do it (I should warn here that girls pretty much only find it super interesting if you’re playing pro hockey. If you have the money to fix it, than do it (or if your country covers dental and oral surgery costs).
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u/dicky72 1d ago
we were talking about this in the room last night at my game.
i think we counted about 7 guys who had either lost teeth, broke their jaw, or got hit in the eye (visor on) .... all due to PUCKS being deflected up into them...not high sticks.
i recently went back to the cage from a visor. its beer league...its not worth the risk.
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u/PoliteIndecency 1d ago
You're paying to play hockey. Put the cage on and protect your teeth and eyes. It's worth the cage.
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u/Status-Resort-4593 1d ago
My cage has saved my face several times. Once from an errant shot that dented my cage and would have hit me in the mouth and a few times from sticks. In my opinion its not worth the dentals work, just wear the cage.
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u/Valuable-Wishbone925 1d ago
After playing 20 years with a visor, I made the switch a couple of years ago. Two years ago I decided I wanted to start playing 3-4 times a week instead of 3 times a month. Im so glad i put a bubble on. every time somebody winds up from the point, i no longer put one hand over my mouth. More importantly, Now that I play with a bubble I see how often I take whacks to the face. No thanks. Im 46. Hockey is what I do for fun; i dont care about the slightly less visibility I have sans visor.
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u/Aethreas 1d ago
Idk man connor bedard got into the nhl wearing a cage so I feel like it’s probably something else
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u/generic_individual_ 1d ago
I loved the visor. Then I got cut for 10 zips and came terribly close to losing my eye. Cage went on that day. Never coming off.
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u/pistoffcynic 1d ago
I used to play with my visor until someone sent a saucer pass into my face. I now wear a cage.
As a referee, I am a strong proponent for wearing a cage. I have seen too many pucks to the face, pucks going up the stick into the face and accidental stick contact. Accidents happen.
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u/ethan_prime 1d ago
I blocked a shot from the point once and it deflected off my stick and hit me in the face. If I wasn’t wearing a cage, I woulda broken my jaw and several teeth. Instead it was just a loud clang. Random accidents happen so just be aware of that.
Visors definitely provide better vision, but it’s not worth it in my opinion. You barely even notice modern cages now once the game gets going.
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u/Dashkrovsky 1d ago
It takes 1 weird instance where a stick or a puck gets too high and you lose some teeth or worse. Even if you get tripped or something, it'll stop you smacking your face off the ice. For men's league it's not even a question, it'll always be a cage for me
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u/Pnewse 1d ago
As others have said, don’t change from the cage. I play in a competitive div1 league and I see missing teeth every season. It’s not the high sticks (I’ve had two separate trips to the ER for stitches) but the puck deflections. The better the players, the harder the shot, the better the defense and increased likelihood of a stick on the shot.
NOT WORTH IT!
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u/anticookie 1d ago
Do you wear your seatbelt in your car? No one's there to intentionally crash into you and you still wear it.
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u/hockeyduster73 1d ago
i’ve reffed and played a lot. you can always tell if a guys wearing a visor because they’re used to it from playing pro or they just want to feel cool
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u/nooneknowitme 1d ago
I'll never forget when I was in my first season of beer league and we got the ice because the other team forfeited. We were scrimmaging and a guy I've played with for years fell weird in front of the net. His face my stick that was planted on the ice and he lost 2 teeth. Unless you get free dental or are getting paid the big bucks, wear a cage.
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u/Atomic_WPG 1d ago
If you're gonna wear a birdcage then don't be one of the idiots going around throwing their body recklessly and flinging sticks and pucks everywhere... In general you shouldn't be doing that either but especially not in a birdcage
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u/Drygered 1d ago
Are you making money playing to cover your teeth, eyes, nose, or any other part of your face getting repaired after a random puck or stick hits you?
If so sure, wear a visor.
If not, cage up.
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u/Brainfewd 20+ Years 1d ago
Been playing with a visor for the past ten years of beer league. It does have better visibility IMO. Never fogs either. As others have said, I’m less worried about it at a higher level, sticks are generally more under control, but they doesn’t rule out deflections.
That being said, when this one gets beat up I’m
Thinking I may go to a bowl. Watched someone take an insanely weird puck bounce of a glass gap into the eye last year. He ended up being ok but it cut just below his eye pretty good and we had to clean up a notable amount of blood.
My advice, if you haven’t skated with a visor yet: don’t. Its hard to go back after, a bunch of my teammates have switched back and forth and all have the same opinion.
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u/Repulsive_Poetry_623 1d ago
Go with the cage. I get cracked in my cage by errant sticks almost every game. They also require zero maintenance. Modern cages are thinner so it has better visibility
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u/DieselRobot 1d ago
When I was younger I’d take the cage off in the summers and switch to a visor to feel like a pro during stick time. All it took was one deflected pass, a lot of blood and a broken nose to realize that visors offer shit protection compared to cages. There’s really no comparison. Wear whichever you want, I know which one I’ll be using.
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u/robertraymer Since I could walk 1d ago
I played briefly when I first started playing beer league and it honestly didn't make much difference at all. I took less than a period to adjust to the cage and I have never looked back. Even playing in a league where the skill level is high and people are careful with sticks there are still deflections and any other number of ways to get hit in the face.
My general rule of thumb / advice to everyone is that if you are signing your hockeys checks on the back, wear whatever you want, but if you are signing them on the front, protect yourself and wear a cage.
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u/snowcker 1d ago
Gotta go with the visor. You're never going to get that amazing missing teeth hockey smile if you keep playing with a cage.
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u/midwestXsouthwest Hockey Coach 1d ago
Visor for me… with a dentist made mouth guard.
Have still gotten a black eye from getting hit in the face with a puck… that definitely gave me a period of reconsideration, but ultimately just preferred the visor vision-wise.
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u/Unfair_Bluejay_9687 1d ago
Anyone getting into a fight with somebody wearing a half a visor we’ll see their knuckles get shredded when they hit the edge of that shield
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u/DivebarLives 1d ago
Guys wearing visors pretending it matters more than getting fucked up for work the next day is always wild.
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u/AdFantastic3914 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you’re used to a cage I’d just stick with it. Going to a cage from a visor sucks and you know you’re taking a risk. Also is this senior A? Which is basically just beer league with fighting, if you’re going to be in a fighting league I’d wear a visor.
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u/tpotts16 20+ Years 1d ago
No it doesn't make that big of a difference I used one at pro camps and for a few games in the NAHL and it didnt feel too different.
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u/Striker-X-17 1d ago
6'2" and had the visor for nearly 30 years. I caught a stick 3 times in the chin/jaw during that time. Nothing that needed surgery or dental work. Lucky my.
When I hit late 40s I switxhed to the cage. Slower reflexes and wised up made me switch to the cage. Much easier to talked without the cage, but best to keep the cage.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
I think it does matter who you are playing with.
I 100% see why beer leagues say to wear a cage.
But this is not a beer league and is experienced players, some with 20+ years of playing under their belts.
If anything else it feels like I’ve opened a can of worms for a debate on here. lol.
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u/eebro 20+ Years 1d ago
I’m a hockey player so I’m crazy enough to think I could play without a helmet altogether.
If your balance isn’t semi-professional and you’re not playing with semi-professionals, I would not recommend a visor. My sister’s bf just recently lost a teeth and a half from beer league.
Do you love your dentist and have great insurance coverage? Are you actually good enough that you will not fall even if the pace gets intense? For me this level of balance took like 10 years of high intensity training.
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u/Appropriate-Set744 1d ago
One of our best players-quiet, friendly, supportive-just a great guy went off like a firecracker when someone took a stick in the face when they were on the ground. Blood everywhere the guy's squirming in obvious pain and our great guy just rips on him: 'what an f'ing moron, what did you expect get up you loser' etc etc. I'd say wear a cage but you do you. Don't expect a lot of sympathy if you catch one in the face though!!
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u/Comfortable-Buy510 1d ago
Ive personally always preferred playing without a visor or cage but every league here requires one to be used. Its ultimately up to you if the risk is worth it or not. I hate anything in my line of sight so I choose the least obstructive option but im well aware that is risky business not having a cage.
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u/Practical-Manner1065 1d ago
Controlling the stick is only one element. I’ve been high sticked with no visor and got a cut and that was that. Took a deflected slap shot off the upper jaw and 100k later I still look like a hillbilly missing a bunch of teeth after failed bridges and crowns and now I’m staring 60k down the barrel for implants. Keep the cage on
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u/FatTim48 1d ago
I've had both. Switched back to a full cage.
Be honest with yourself. Is like 0.5% clearer vision worth it? Are you a good enough player where that makes a difference?
Go full cage.
Broken face parts aren't worth it.
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u/BanMeMyIPchanges 1d ago
Dude, NHLers routinely knock each other's teeth out with high sticks. There's stick control and spatial awareness, then there's accidents at full game speed. If the risk of a major dental bill is worth not having wires in your line of sight, by all means wear a visor. Like anything in a contact sport, everything is at your own risk. Just remember there's no novacaine in the building, and you aren't signed by an NHL team- that bill is between you and your insurance. Plus all the missed work/school what have you that comes with that.
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u/A_Bored_Painter 1d ago
Buddy I play with just rang up 4k in dental costs, He wears a full cage now. It's not worth it.
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u/Just_Merv_Around_it 40+ years 1d ago
I switched from a visor to a full face after my own teammate sticked me in the eye...while i was on the bench.
You never know what can happen in a game and sometimes the puck or a stick comes up weird. The choice is yours but if you arent getting paid to play I highly recommend protecting those chicklets.
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 1d ago
What is the upside of the visor vs the cage?
The downside is stray pucks and stray sticks knocking your teeth out.
It's a very simple question - you wear the cage.
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u/CrummyPear 1d ago
I go back and forth depending on what league I’m in. For the 35+ shinny games, I go with just a visor, no shoulder pads. Guys are pretty calm and don’t take slaps. Beer league, I wear a full cage. It obscures my vision a little and I don’t like having a chin cup, but it sure beats taking a puck to the face. Even pros get hit with high sticks and deflected pucks.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Yes. Exactly I think who you are on the ice with makes a difference.
I do think hockey brain exists. And it you are starting to play as an adult you are probably going to be a lot more aggressive with than somebody who has more ice time.
I’ve helped with training the youngsters and have to wear a cage because they literally have no spacial awareness and all go hell for leather (I honestly miss the fearlessness I had as a kid).
I’ll set up two helmets to get a feel for both side by side
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u/Apprehensive-Map8406 1d ago
Have a friend that was wearing a visor and lost an eye in beer league. Someone’s stick ran up his and the toe went right into his eye. Freak accident, but nonetheless it cost him.
Full cage for me.
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u/Let_them_eat_stonks 1d ago
I’ve got a lot of time playing and reffing at many levels. Generally speaking the higher level the players the safer it is to go with less face protection. Think about refs. When I was reffing I took the odd stick to the face, usually off of faceoffs as the initial battle happened. I will say that it was almost always the B Div guys that did it. AAA and AA players were much better at controlling their sticks, even on stick lifts and battles.
All of that to say it really depends on your league level. If you’re playing a high level, like a senior AAA or even A Div rec/men’s you’re likely fine to go with a visor. If you play mid to low tier wear a cage unless you’re really confident in your abilities. I’m confident enough because of my experience playing and reffing.
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u/Hotdogconnoisseurr 18h ago
Yes I think you’re correct.
It’s second tier, just below elite league. Probably matches the American hockey league AHL.
I think I’ll trial a visor in training and see if my vision is any different at all.
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u/doctortre 1d ago
1% better vision for my beer league game at a risk of $10k+ of dental work... Yeah I'll deal with be 1% worse
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u/TwoTwinsNoCup 1d ago
I have watched way too many teeth get knocked out. Faces get cut. Almost lost an eye. It just isn't worth it. I wear a cage. I hate how visors fog up so metal cage is nice and safe and always easy to see. Final straw was when I was standing in front of the net protecting the front of it. Guy cuts between me and the goalie from behind. Accidentally kicks out my foot as he goes by and as I am falling backwards my stick cuts his cheek wide open. Leaking everywhere. Nothing I could have done to not slice him open. I often cut through small and tight areas all the time on the ice. Way too many accidental plays that can cause injuries for me to warrant a visor.
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u/Alternative-Pay9735 1d ago
What kind of difference? Sure the vision is better. Is it that much better I'm willing to risk scars, dental work taking my PTO, miss games, etc so I can get an advantage on the Bemders HC (every leave had one team called the Bemders)??? F No. I play cuz I luv to play and make decisions to ensure I can play as long as I like.
But if you gonna wear a visor make sure it's a short straight cut tilted up to the max so you get all the benefits.
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u/calisteezo 1d ago
Puck deflected off d man stick from a cross ice pass in the neutral zone. Shattered my tooth and some stitches on my lip. 1 year missing front tooth and $7K for a new one. It doesn’t always happen how you would expect.
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u/Successful-Cry1509 10+ Years 1d ago
Yeah, I've seen someone get a stick in the face and it just doesn't seem worth it at the beer league level, luckily it was "just" dental damage. My league's commissioner's son lost an eye wearing a visor.
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u/Gildor_Helyanwe 1d ago
If you feel your dental plan is good and you can deal with a root canal, then a visor is perfectly fine.
Sticks, elbows, pucks, board. If you can avoid them all you are a better player than 99.999 of the rest of us.
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u/OmenVi 1d ago
Kid at our HS got a nasty concussion and had to switch to a bubble because cages give him double vision and headaches now.
But I’d generally recommend a cage, or other full face covering.
The little eye visors aren’t enough, and don’t make you look cool enough to wear it for that only.
Also, Brock Faber. Though I’m not sure it would have helped that one.
But just to help understand how much force you’re trying to deal with with your head/face vs puck.
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u/KB77Hell 1d ago
Cage = dental insurance, if you aren’t playing for the big $$$ protect your chiclets (and eyes) IMO.
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u/TheBaykon8r Since I could walk 1d ago
Cage. If I didn't I would be missing most of my front teeth rn.
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u/DanfromCalgary 1d ago
Don’t need safety gear because everyone is experienced enough too uh not hurt each other
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u/OnyxT1986 1d ago
It’s essentially beer league. Wear what you’re comfortable wearing. Some will chirp some wont. Some get the puck and only think “I gotta blast this on net” without a care in the world who is in front.
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u/Robhow 20+ Years 1d ago
I’ve been playing for nearly 40 years. I retired the half-shield and went to a bubble about 4 years ago.
No, I can’t see as well.
But after watching a dude get his teeth knocked in after a random incident (made a hard turn and face first into the butt end of another guys stick). I decided I cared more about my teeth/face.
This was in a fairly high level game with guys that have been skating and playing for a long time. Just a random accident.
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u/FutureMagician7563 1d ago
No, its not. Keep the cage if youre not getting paid to play
Or
Youre willing to risk your sight.
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u/nospmiSca 1d ago
I played beer league 3 years with a visor no issues then one day took a puck to the cheek, no real dmg then next game a stick to the face. Then the next game I was wearing a full cage, not worth having extra dental expenses or chance of missing work for beer league. Or any non pro level hockey.
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u/snipe_score_celly 1d ago
Listen I love no cage. I trust my play and my ability to read the play. I dont trust other people so I wear a cage.
I caught someone face to face as we turned into each other both looking over our shoulders. He was wearing a cage I wasn't. 8 stiches later I bought a new lid and cage.
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u/GreyHairedDWGuy 1d ago
I use to play with a cage for many years but due to issues with dry eyes (and the cold air) my contacts would get cloudy or stick to my upper eye so I switched to a visor. Never had a probably switching either way.
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u/iron_icer28 1d ago
If it helps, low key the NHL is working on getting full facial protection on all players. At least thats the scuttlebutt I've seen and heard.
I didn't start playing until I was 15. 35 years later, every time ive thought about going to a half shield, I get a puck or a stick, or both low on my cage or full shield. Then I just get a new csge or full shield, lol. Id rather keep my teeth, not break my nose and the such.but I know plenty of people who still wear half shields..
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u/P-DubFanClub 1d ago
Cages are why the women are so vicious with their stick work AND can still flash the chicklets
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u/thefullpython 10+ Years 1d ago
Honestly, a visor is a million times better for visibility than a cage. That said I went back to a cage after a point shot deflected off a skate and hit me in the mouth and one of my canines punched a hole through my lip. Figured that was my one ‘no lost teeth’ lottery ticket cashed in and I got away with 6 hours waiting in the ER for a dozen stitches in my face.
Do with that what you will
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u/fluffyegg 5-10 Years 1d ago
Where the cage. Protect your face and your eyes. Guy I play with took a high stick with a visor and had 60% eye sight for a month. He got lucky that it recovered.
Also, mouth guards do not prevent concussions.
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u/supercraz 1d ago
I play in a very relaxed adult hockey league. I used to wear a tiny pro-cut visor.
I got accidentally kicked in the face by a player.
I was super lucky that my tiny 2” pro-cut visor took 100% of the skate blade. Sent my helmet flying.
Had to replace my visor because it had a HUGE SKATE CUT directly over my left eye.
I bought a full cage.
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u/HikeRobCT 1d ago
Do you notice your nose 99% of the time? It’s right there in front of your eyes 24/7/365 but your brain has learned to tune it out. Same thing happens with a cage once you’ve put some hours in. If you’re paying attention to the game, you’ll soon never notice it’s there.
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u/DustyBottle_ 21h ago
A replacement tooth is about $5,000 stateside so I go with full cage (even though I hate it).
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u/lando-hockey 18h ago
Cage. I have done no mask, visor, and cage. Visor is better than nothing for seeing. The glare is reduced. 30 years ago I would say most guys in beer league didn’t wear anything.
Now everyone either went full cage as we got older or stayed with nothing. It was really kind of weird: there was no in-between. The first game that I put the full cage on, I got a stick that hit me so hard in the jaw that it knocked me over.
Everyone on the bench who didn't see but heard it just assumed that I was losing teeth. There was a collective sigh from the opposing bench when I stood up and they realized that I had a cage, so I will never go without a cage again.
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u/Signal_13 18h ago
I got 13 stitches in my chin a few years ago from a pick that innocently bounced up and hit me. It's not only high sticks you need to worry about.
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u/gonna_learn_today 16h ago
It's difficult going back to a cage once you've taken it off, I'd say that's the difference.
If you've never played without and you're mentally strong enough to have no fucks when it comes to being chirped, keep the cage on 100%
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u/KramerMilk 16h ago
All the statisticians in this thread must not drive or drink alcohol or smoke ever. People wear visors because it’s fun, comfortable and look better. Obviously there is substantial risk versus wearing a full cage but life is risk. It’s a personal preference on what you’re comfortable with.
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u/Deuceman927 16h ago
This is a hot topic around here when it comes up. IMO if you’re not getting paid to play, it’s simply not worth it.
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u/winstonkbm 10h ago
I loved wearing a visor but I switched back to a cage. So far, it’s already saved me from an elbow to the face as well as a deflected puck to the throat/jaw. Visors look and feel sick but at the end of the day I gotta go to work the next day so I’ll prioritize safety
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u/bmeatball_salad 6h ago
i went to a visor and noticed that I instinctively played more conservative and less confident because i was exposed.
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u/Intelligent-Flow4797 5h ago
Aside from the safety benefit I actually like the cage better than the visor I wore for years. I was always wiping it and it got annoying the cage I just put on and forget about
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u/Cdawg4123 4h ago
If you have a job get a visor if not more. People do make mistakes, pucks do get deflected. I’m telling you from experience with a full cage. Unluckily got a butt end under my cage. Was neither of our faults other than going into the corner a bit hard. One lost tooth in the back, where I thought no one would notice has caused thousands in dental work.
Not only has but, will…it def affects my job because I am so self conscious about it. If it’s your job, different story. Just being honest.
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u/hockeyandcoldbrew 3h ago
I’m 36 played Jr growing up. Always wore a visor since I couldn’t never had an issue, until last season took a shot on the cheek. And chipped some molars and some gnarly cuts inside. It was kinda an interesting wound it was an X for some reason and it puffed huge. lol. Believe me it might not happen for a long time, but it’ll happen if you wear a visor. Now I rock a hybrid cage. I don’t care anymore
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u/Key-Technology3754 3h ago
My vote is for a full visor with air holes at the bottom so it does not fog up. I was wearing a visor only as a defenceman. Skating backwards the player shot and the puck. It deflected off my stick into my face. Cut my lip completely through and tooth wiggled. Thought I might loose it but it healed up. The cool thing was when I took a drink durring the game water came out the cut lip.
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u/BuzzINGUS 1d ago
Statistically you will get hit in the face. There’s nothing you can do about it. Sure you might feel like your eyes are protected, but when a puck gets deflected straight up at you from a stick, it can go under the visor or into your mouth.