A typical hockey helmet. Photo: Andrew Capitelli
As much as this NHL season has presented an array of surprises, there is one horrifying constant: concussions. As of the All-Star break, the league had already diagnosed 71 player concussions.
Many argue the figure is inflated because of the NHL’s strict, yet attentive treatment and diagnosis protocols training staffs are ordered to abide by once a player is dealt a blow to the head. The protocol was new for this season. In the past, players would get hit in the head, feel dizzy and head back on the ice when ordered. But the recent deaths of former players, Derek Boogard and Wade Belak, due to depression issues, have forced the league into mandating the new procedures.
But is it enough?
Following Boogard’s death, neurologists studied his brain and determined he was already showing signs of early dementia at 28 years old. Boogard was an enforcer. Due to limited playing skill, fighting was his only way to crack the NHL. After thousands of fights, his brain tapped out.
St. Louis' T.J. Oshie takes an elbow to the head thanks to Anaheim's George Parros. Photo: Andrew Capitelli
But the most alarming concern is that fighters aren’t the only ones at risk. The Penguin’s Sidney Crosby, arguably the league’s best player, and Marc Savard of the Bruins, have only played a handful of games in the past year due to battles with post-concussion syndrome.
What else can be done?
Former Flyers legend Eric Lindros, who was forced to retire after eight serious concussions during his career, has become an outspoken leader against concussions in the league. He’s suggested that the game has become too fast and cites the removal of the two-line pass rule as a major problem, claiming due to its absence players are moving too quickly through the neutral zone, endangering themselves and their opponents.
This style elbow pad, with soft padding, is what many in the league are calling for.
Equipment is another talking point. Many, including the retired New York Rangers forward Mark Messier, are calling for helmets that protect players better from concussions. Others believe the size and material of the player’s shoulder pads should be minimized and changed to decrease the impact of shoulder shots to the head.
