A player's control is achieved via the skate blade making contact with the ice. Once a player leaves his feet to make a check or block a shot, he is no longer in control of his body. The face mask gives a false sense of security. Players in youth hockey now dive head first to block shots and launch into other players with tremendous force to make a check. They are no longer concerned about catching a puck, stick, elbow, shoulder or knee in the face, which means they are unafraid of using their bodies as fast moving and at times uncontrolled battering rams.
Hockey is played within the confines of wood, steel and plastic barriers.
Our young players do not realize the face mask will not protect their necks. Being young, they do not understand or appreciate the risks. Therefore, adults need to step in and protect them whenever possible. The face mask was designed to protect the face from pucks and sticks. It functions quite well for those purposes.