sentences:  In 1980 it was decided by the Australian Ice Hockey Federation that, for the first time, it would be mandatory for players under the age of 18 to wear full face masks beginning in the 1981 season.This was in the interest of greater player safety and would bring Australia in line with international regulations.The decision was based on evidence of a marked decline in facial and dental injuries to players aged under 16 years old who had this mandatory face mask regulation introduced the year before.