NHL

by Derek Abma, CNS, montrealgazette.com

Mario Lemieux's recent threat to sever connections with the NHL after a brawl involving his Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders has us talking about hockey violence again - and this is good.

Every few years something happens - such as Todd Bertuzzi's career-ending attack on Steve Moore in 2004 or Marty McSorley knocking Donald Brashear unconscious with a stick to the head in 2000 - that prompts people to debate fighting's place in hockey.

In the end, those who run the National Hockey League and other branches of the North American hockey industry tend to decide these are isolated incidents that warrant no extraordinary action.

The Sabres' Jason Pominville was concussed after a blindside hit against the glass on Oct. 11. A Mayo Clinic conference will discuss steps to prevent such injuries.

By JEFF Z. KLEIN - NYTimes.com

Published: October 17, 2010

From the N.H.L.'s top goalie to the parent of a 12-year-old who sustained head and spinal concussions from a body check, calls are proliferating for changes to the culture of a sport that many see as too accepting of reckless body contact and serious injury.

The movement for change in hockey comes before a medical conference on Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where representatives from the N.H.L. down to youth leagues will meet to discuss recommendations aimed to reduce the occurrence of concussions and other serious injuries, primarily in youth hockey.

Prompted by statistics indicating a high rate of serious injury among players ages 11 to 14, the measures are expected to include pushing back the age at which body checking is introduced in the United States and some Canadian provinces to 13 from 11.

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."

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By Ben Volin

February 13th, 2008

Palm Beach Post

 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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