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rinks, the new normal is looking anything but normal for most seasoned hockey families. But to borrow an old show business term, the show must go on. How well everyone adapts to these changes will determine how quickly we can raise the curtain on the new season. "I absolutely believe our lives will go on. We're not going to quarantine forever, but we need to contin- ually practice prevention," said Dr. Michael Stuart, USA Hockey's chief medical and safety officer. "This is not the first nor will it be the last pan- demic. … We're going to have to live with it." And that means following certain protocols to limit the risks to contracting Covid-19, at least until a vaccine is developed and distributed on a mass scale. In the meantime, the responsibility to keep its customers safe falls on dedicated rink staffs that spend hours on top of their typical daily tasks sterilizing and sanitizing common areas from lobby restrooms to hallways, locker rooms and player benches. Every day like clockwork a group called the "clean team" patrols the 280,000 square foot state-of-the-art complex known as the Great Park Ice & Five Point Arena in Irvine, Calif. Together they spray and wipe down benches, bathrooms and any area where germs may thrive in the southern California heat. Despite being one of the first states to close down back in the early days of the pandemic, a rise in the number of cases has many on edge as the governor has reordered the closing of bars, night clubs and indoor dining facilities. It could only be a matter of days before rinks join that growing list. Players choose to wear a full face shield or a full cage based on personal prefer- ence, but what protection do they offer from the coro- navirus on the ice? According to USA Hockey medical professionals, there is no scientific proof that a full, clear shield on a hockey helmet provides better protection than a cage or visor. "There is no scientific research that shows a clear shield is going to have any less risk of transmission than a full cage, or even at higher levels, a visor," said Kevin Margarucci, USA Hockey's manager of play - er safety. "However, there may be some benefit because the clear shield can prevent droplets from con - tacting the face through the openings of the cage." Margarucci added that a full clear face shield may also act as a deterrent to a player touching his or her face compared to a cage where players stick their fingers through the metal bars. "We also know that with the holes at the bottom and the ability for someone to breathe normally that's not going to prevent them from inhaling any aerosol droplets that may be near," he said. "It still comes down to a personal choice or the choice of parents of younger players of what type of facial protection that a person uses." Regardless of what type of mask a player uses, it's import - ant that it be cleaned thoroughly after each use. AUGUST 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 25 SEEING CLEARLY THROUGH THE FACIAL PROTECTION DEBATE As rinks continue to reopen in accordance with state and local guidelines, some on-ice sessions have limited the number of skaters and coaches while others are allowing scrimmages and games to take place. PHOTOS BY Don Egdorf; USA Hockey Magazine Archives