Palmateer began wearing this chest protector and shoulder/arm pads in 1970 when he was with the Toronto Marlboros Juvenile team. He continued to wear the chest protector until the end of his NHL career in 1984. He wore the shoulder/arm pads until 1978. When Palmateer played in the 2017 Centennial Classic Alumni Game he wore both pieces. To say pieces have been mended and modified by Palmateer would be an understatement, he recalls:
“After multiple fractured ribs and collarbones I was constantly adding pieces. The chest protector would always slide down so I added an additional piece to protect my neck and collar bone. The thing still slid down but at least it was something. I was constantly stitching in new padding to both pieces to help with the impact from the puck. I also added some plastic flaps on the arm protector to protect my wrists.”
