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by Matthew Ondesko
Metro Western New York
January 28, 2010
When playing a sport like hockey everybody knows injuries are part of the game. A player can deal with a broken finger or a sprained ankle every once and awhile. But, what players of all ages are having a hard time dealing with is concussions.
Concussions are becoming a big part of the game - especially now that the players are bigger and faster and the equipment is also better.
"The game has evolved," stated former National Hockey League great Mark Messier. "Players are bigger, stronger, faster. Equipment is more sophisticated and the playing area has changed. It is a chain of events over time that has led to where we are today. The evolution of the equipment is the factor."
By Ben Volin
February 13th, 2008
Mike Necela runs a youth hockey league with more than 200 players. Like many other hockey fans, he watched in horror when the Panthers' Richard Zednik skated quickly off the ice Sunday night with blood flowing from the sliced carotid artery.
Necela said the gruesome injury, caused by a teammate's errant skate, made him realize the inadequacy of the equipment requirements for his leagues at the Palm Beach IceZone in suburban Lake Worth.
USA Hockey requires that youths wear helmets with facemasks and mouth guards. Necela plans to talk with other organizers of his league to mandate neck guards.
"It's just something we've got to do," he said. "Whether it's uncomfortable or not is not the issue. It's protection."
Most of the country's recreational and travel hockey leagues follow USA Hockey equipment guidelines. Throat and neck protectors are "recommended" for goaltenders but not even mentioned for other players.
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