▁had ▁nearly ▁built ▁their ▁care ers ▁on ▁using ▁the ▁sp it ball . ▁The ▁league ▁made ▁an ▁exception ▁for ▁ 1 7 ▁named ▁players , ▁who ▁were ▁permitted ▁to ▁throw ▁sp it ball s ▁for ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁their ▁care ers . ▁Bur le igh ▁Gr imes ▁threw ▁the ▁last ▁legal ▁sp it ball ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁ ▁Begin ning ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁the ▁National ▁Hockey ▁League ▁required ▁all ▁players ▁to ▁wear ▁hel m ets . ▁Nevertheless , ▁if ▁a ▁player ▁had ▁signed ▁his ▁first ▁professional ▁contract ▁before ▁this ▁r uling , ▁he ▁was ▁allowed ▁to ▁play ▁without ▁a ▁hel met ▁if ▁he ▁so ▁desired . ▁Craig ▁Mac T av ish ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁player ▁to ▁do ▁so , ▁playing ▁without ▁a ▁hel met ▁up ▁until ▁his ▁ret irement ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁other ▁notable ▁players ▁include ▁Guy ▁La f leur ▁and ▁Rod ▁Lang way ▁who ▁retired ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 3 , ▁respectively . ▁A ▁similar ▁rule ▁was ▁passed ▁for ▁N HL ▁officials ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 8 - 8 9 ▁season ; ▁any ▁official ▁who ▁started ▁his ▁career ▁before ▁the ▁r uling ▁could ▁also ▁go ▁hel met - less ▁if ▁they ▁so ▁desired . ▁Ker ry ▁F ras er ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁ref eree ▁who ▁was ▁not ▁required ▁to ▁wear ▁a ▁hel met , ▁until ▁the ▁rat ification ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁N HL ▁Official s ▁Association ▁collect ive ▁b arg aining