I am a hockey fan and get both sides of this issue and can still remember helmet-less Craig MacTavish skating around in the 1980's and 1990's. Remember the uproar of players and mandatory helmets back then? Even just 5-7 years ago, you were considered a sissy if you wore a half-shield. Then Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby join the league and now plenty of players wear the half-shield.
I played competitive softball for years and remember pitchers experimenting with the hockey-type catcher helmet when they played. They were laughed at and guys intentionally tried to 'spin the dummy'. Go out and watch a competitive tournament nowadays and it's a rarity to NOT see a pitcher wearing the protective helmet.
It's all fun and games until the next Bill Masterson happens courtesy of a 100 MPH slap-shot that hits someone in the head. Just ask Ron Harris, he'll tell you.