NHL MUST call these 5 minute majors

THANK YOU referees for calling a 5 minute major on that hit on Lyudman. The hit was legal as a hit, but carried an intent to injure that deserves a 5 minute major.

Thank you for protecting players against concussions.

Press Begins to Argue for an End to Head Shots

Although Wyshynski is right that visors should be mandatory and seamless glass should be eliminated, he's on the wrong side of hockey history when he writes: "Not banning hits to the head across the board is, ultimately, a good thing, because it would severely limit the physicality with which the game is played. The NHL did the right thing by drawing a line in the sand and saying the cheap-shot plays that target a player's head gotta go."

Wyshynski's more recent posts have been counterproductive.

The truth is that it is wrong to ask the referee to decide about the player's intention in any particular hit. It's even worse to ask the corrupt Colin Campbell to make that judgment.

He does get some interesting posts (and a lot of profanity) when he asks readers if violence made them consider quitting the NHL.

Recognizing the need for change

Back in the real world, The Montreal Gazette says that hockey's management "isn't using its head": "No suspension for Boston's Zdeno Chara, nada. Once again the National Hockey League had a chance to send a strong message to protect its players, and once again it blew the call. It's a miracle this decision, or non-decision, didn't launch a modern day version of the 1955 Rocket Richard riot in Montreal. Then again, in a sense, it did."

This after hockey's general managers decided not to ban head shots -- but did call for longer suspensions.

One former general manager and current blogger for The Hockey News called for the league to recognize a distinction between the violent and the dangerous, saying that the league needs to eliminate danger, not violence. Dangerous hits -- those that can end careers -- include hits to the knee, ankle, and head. Player can come back from bruises and even broken arms but the league has recognized that head and knee injuries can end a career (the league has failed to crack down on ankle injuries).

Journalists outside of the profession are quicker to call for change. Bob Herbert of The New York Times said that the NFL needs to protect players' heads.

It seems possible that the NFL will act before the NHL does and if that happens -- the NHL general managers will take the blame for failing to crack down on danger and for failing to fire Colin Campbell.

Looking back at Matt Cooke

So, is Matt Cooke chicken excrement, as Roenick said? Was the suspension long enough?

Clearly, the short suspension of Matt Cooke sent the message that head shots are okay.

Colin Campbell is Killing the NHL

The NHL needs to enforce the rules consistently, and Colin Campbell will ensure that never happens. The hit by Chara on Pacioretty was deliberate and nasty. But the Boston Bruins had purchased several insurance policies.

First, they hired Campbell's son Gregory. After the hit on Savard, the Bruins knew that Campbell was for sale. Savard angered Campbell when Campbell was the incompetent manager of the NY Rangers. Campbell let many great players go, most of them Russian (such as Zubov), but none left with more rancor than Savard. Savard wanted more money and Campbell would not give it to him. Years later, Savard had proved Campbell wrong by becoming one of the game's best players, when Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke effectively ended his career with a deliberate concussion-causing hit.

Zubov was let go because he angered Campbell by insisting on not playing with a broken wrist.

Colin hated Savard because his son Gregory had hit Savard in the face with his hockey stick. In a note to referees, Campbell called Savard "a little fake artist," in effect calling open season on hits to Savard.

Cooke received no punishment for ending Savard's career in March of 2010. During the summer of 2010, the Bruins acquired superstar Nathan Horton and also Gregory Campbell from Florida in exchange for several valuable draft picks and underrated defenseman Dennis Wideman.

In Campbell, the Bruins acquired not only a fourth line player earning less than a million dollars per year. They also acquired a license to kill from Colin Campbell.

The Bruins increased their investment in Colin Campbell by helping him get a contract extension that's work $35 million over five years.

The NHL has to change.

Campbell's policies are a joke to some, but they cause real harm to the league, the players, and the sport.

Even journalists in Toronto, hockey's corporate HQ, are losing their patience. "The league did once kick out two players – both with the Bruins – for life. But that was for gambling back in the 1940s. In 2011, it is the league itself that is gambling. But not on games – on lives."

The game is getting ridiculous and Campbell's part of the problem. "If it wasn't embarrassing, it was at least another extremely awkward moment for the NHL, vis-à-vis its Director of Hockey Operations, Colin Campbell, and the involvement of his son, Gregory, in Thursday night's WWE-style game between Boston and Dallas. It had to be awkward for Commissioner Gary Bettman to see his chief of discipline forced to recuse himself from meting out punishments for a game that had several fights -- three within the first four seconds -- and one cheap, blindside hit that earned its perpetrator a four-game suspension."

Mario Lemieux has threatened to leave. "If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it."

Lemieux needs to stay, Campbell needs to leave, and someone in hockey journalism or among hockey's owners needs to call out Colin Campbell.

Head Shots are Killing the NHL

Too many great players have concussions. Unlike broken bones and teeth, these head injuries may never heal. Every new injury carries with it the risk of permanent paralysis or even death.

The NHL All Star game was harmed by the absence of Sidney Crosby. "Crosby is far from the only player to miss time or even the all-star game because of a concussion - according to team releases and media reports, more than 30 players have suffered concussions this season, including Edmonton all-star Ales Hemsky - but the Penguins star's injury has sparked greater debate about how the NHL regulates hits to the head and handles a growing need for concussion awareness."

Players are critical of NHL policy. Florida Panthers star David Booth said, "over time, I think they'll get more strict because there are still a lot of injuries now, the best player in the game is affected."

So many players have had concussions this year that you could create an All Star team with them:

Centre: Sidney Crosby, Brad Richards, Marc Savard, David Krejci, John Tavares, Bryan Little

Left wing: Johan Franzen, Andy McDonald, David Perron, Max Pacioretty, Rene Bourque

Right wing: Marian Gaborik, Ales Hemsky, Jason Pominville, Mike Knuble

Defence: Drew Doughty, Mike Green, Brad Stuart, Toni Lydman, Dan Hamhuis, Andrej Meszaros, Nick Schultz

Goal: Jonas Hiller, Ondrej Pavelec

But the NHL believes instead that violence should be encouraged. "Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn't hockey. It was a travesty," Lemieux said. "It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that."

Kudos to those hockey journalists who are tackling this important issue. The solution is simple: "legislate it out."

Crosby's Concussion Has Finally Occurred

Crosby's concussion was inevitable this year in particular because this is the year that he has dominated the league. At almost 2 points per game, Crosby has finally been scoring like Mario and Gretzky.

So it was no surprise that the Penguins' two rivals, the Lightning and the Capitals, attacked him.

What was shocking: no penalties for the hits.

The NHL is encouraing the type of violence that enforces mediocrity: get too good and you will be hit in ways that the two greats never were.

So now Crosby is out indefinitely with a concussion. Meanwhile, other greats are hurting too. Stamkos and Ovechkin are playing through injuries (we do not know how severe the pain is). Datsuyk is out hurt. Derek Roy, who was having a career year as a leader for the Sabres, is out. Andy McDonald, who has always looked younger than he is, is concussed. Kariya retired.

The enforcement of mediocrity has to stop, and progress will start when Colin Campbell is fired.

NHL Fails To Prevent Concussions

Concussions are increasing in the NHL. With Colin Campbell's corruption now widely known, the fault has to be partly his, and partly the NHL's for failing to fire him.

Part of the reason that concussion rates have risen is that they are being reported more, but the rate should be declining.

As the CBC notes, "The number of concussions reported by NHL players remains unchanged from last season despite the league's attempt to reduce the injury by creating a rule outlawing blindside hits to the head. Dr. Ruben Echemendia, the NHL's neuropsychologist, said Friday that 33 concussions had been reported as of Dec. 1 — the exact same number as a year ago. However, he was quick to note that it doesn't necessarily mean the rule change has been ineffective."

"The league has been tracking concussions since 1997 and typically sees about 75 reported each season — roughly half of which are the result of blindside hits."

It is absolutely true that individual players are taking consussions more seriously than ever before, as Tavares' story shows.

Still, it's a problem that the rate of concussions has not decreased.

The NFL is ahead of the NHL in researching the problem because about 61 percent of NFL players have had at least one concussion in their career, and some quarterbacks suffer a concussion every year. Evidence suggests that concussions are linked to Alzheimer's, but the link has not been proved. The possibility is as ominous for current NHL players as it is for current NFL players.

The NFL however, will find it harder to prohibit head shots than the NHL, as a recent NY Times op-ed by an ex-NFL player noted.

The Mayo Clinic says that the NHL should ban all hits to the head.

The injury that the NHL won't ever be able to stop completely is this: the skate to the neck. Here's what the stitches look like.

Lack of consistency

Still, the NHL is making its job needlessly tough by failing to suspend players in some obvious cases. Carcillo, for example, was surprised to avoid a suspension for this hit.

Of course, with Colin Campbell using his position to settle grudges rather than establish consistent rules, it's no surprise that the policy is inconsistent and even ridiculous.

Another source of concussions is hits from behind, especially boarding, but with the NHL failing to establish a policy on head shots, it's no surprise that other areas of concerns, such as hits from behind, are virtually ignored. Recently, NHL veteran Michael Nylander, playing in the AHL, had his neck broken due to a hit from behind and his career may be over.

Of course, the NFL is facing criticisms too. It's possible that changes to helmets could help -- personally I think they should be softer, more like protection and less like a weapon. But the NFL is not looking into the possibility at this time. Injuries mean that the NFL should not play more games and should cancel overtime, allowing games to end in a tie.

I hope that the leagues solve their problems. As one commentator said, "Just as football players have to get back to leading with their hands and arms, wrapping up tackles with old-school fundamentals instead of going for the kill shot, hockey players have to learn to stay low, stay in sight and hit appropriately. Concussions can’t be eliminated, but they can be reduced. It will take time, but it can happen."

What that article did not say is that the NHL needs someone who is not corrupt to lead the change.

11 Reasons Why The NHL Must Take Head Shots Seriously and Take Better Care of Youth

11 more news stories show that the NHL has to take head shots seriously. With the Pominville incident, in which the league shows that it thinks a head shot is as bad as making a rude sexual gesture, the league showed it does not take the problem seriously.

The league must defend the players or it will eventually be held liable, when the inevitable death of a youngster or concussion of a marquee player occurs. Networks could be held liable too.

1) Muscle Injuries Rattle an Oregon High School: Two dozen Oregon high school football players who went to a hospital last week complaining of sore and swollen muscles — including three who required surgery — probably suffered from an extreme version of a muscle syndrome caused by intense exercise, sports medicine experts said Monday. Youngsters need to be pushed less -- at least, they need to not get muscle damage from anaerobic exercise.

2) College football player commits suicide, had brain disease.

3) Fox TV announcers including Aikman fail to ask tough questions when injured player returns to a football game.

4) A study showed that college players sustain more total hits to the head in practices than in games. "During a full season of practice, each team averaged 2,500 total hits to the head that measured as significant blows (50 to 79 g’s of force) and about 300 hits to the head that were considered in the concussion-causing range (80 to 119 g’s). Each team experienced almost 200 practice collisions that measured above 120 g’s, which experts have likened to crashing a car into a concrete wall at 40 miles an hour."

5) Could we be witnessing the demise of American football as we know it? "The pressure is on football, at all levels, to deal with recent revelations that concussions are more dangerous and pervasive than most people had thought."

6) Despite Law, Town Finds Concussion Dangers Lurk. It's difficult to prevent concussions in teenagers playing football.

7) The House of Representatives is considering action. (But it's Congress -- could take years, unless a young person dies.)

8) Former ref Kerry Fraser blasts NHL on head shot policy, consistency. Kerry Fraser was one of the best.

9)You can sustain a life threatening injury from falling off your bicycle, even while wearing a helmet.

10) Video: Carolina coach miffed after Foligno headshot non-call. There was no suspension.

11) Rutgers Player Is Paralyzed Below the Neck

Along With Miller, I'm Furious About the Pominville Hit Too

My gf and I were watching the free NHL Center Ice preview, taking in the gamecast from her home town Buffalo, when her favorite player, Jason Pominville, was crushed to the ice from behind. Unconcious before he hit the ice, he sustained a concussion and was carted off on a stretcher. His wife was with him as he was evaluated by team doctors. Their baby's first birthday is less than a month away.

Today, we learned that the NHL regards this assault as the equivalent of a rude gesture. The NHL handed down two 2 game suspensions. One went to James Wisniewski for a rude gesture. The other went to Niklas Hjalmarsson for the hit on Pominville.

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and coach Lindy Ruff said they expect the league to take care of this by handing down a real suspension, but if not, they can take care of the Blackhawks when they play them next, on Saturday, in Chicago.

The NHL has to understand that if it permits this, it's liable for the consequences.

The NHL has to choose whether it wants to deliver a game of skill or the WWE.

Childhood concussions have doubled in 10 years

A story in the NY Times reports on a new study:

"The number of child athletes taken to emergency rooms with sports-related concussions doubled over a recent 10-year-period, a new study reports, even though participation in team sports decreased slightly during the period, from 1997 to 2007."

This must change

Should the rules of hockey be different for kids?

Medical doctor, NHL coach say kids shouldn't learn to hit until later teen years says the headline. But commenters on The Hockey News website say that children should be allowed to hit each other when playing hockey.

I hope that more studies of this issue get funded -- and that the results are made public.

Link Between Head Injuries and Lou Gehrig's Disease

It seems obvious that head injuries would do all sorts of nasty things to the body, but here's more proof of that.

I hope professional sports will start to take this issue seriously.

First Lawsuit Against a League For Head Trauma

Keep an eye on this one:

California’s workers’ compensation system provides a unique, and relatively unknown, haven for retired professional athletes among the 50 states, allowing hundreds of long-retired veterans each year to file claims for injuries sustained decades before. Players need not have played for California teams or be residents of the state; they had to participate in just one game in the state to be eligible to receive lifetime medical care for their injuries from the teams and their insurance carriers.

About 700 former N.F.L. players are pursuing cases in California, according to state records, with most of them in line to receive routine lump-sum settlements of about $100,000 to $200,000. This virtual assembly line has until now focused on orthopedic injuries, with torn shoulders and ravaged knees obvious casualties of the players’ former workplace.

But Dr. Perfetto’s contention that Mr. Wenzel’s dementia relates to his football employment represents a significant shift, several lawyers involved in the California system said. They estimated the case’s potential value at more than $1 million if it reaches its conclusion, probably in two or three years.

League Will Be Responsible If It Ignores the Players

The NHL Players Association wants a very stict rule about headshots.

The NHL (Bettman) disagrees. He won't act until a player dies or until Crosby has his career-ending consussion.

Now Suspend Him

The fine print says that Ovechkin doesn't get an automatic suspension, but the NHL is going to be serious about enforcing the rules on star players not named Pronger (see flowchart, h/t Max), then Ovechkin had to be suspended, or we'll see more of this.

One difference about this boarding game misconduct -- it wasn't against a Buffalo player. In the past, Ovechkin boarded Briere and Kaleta, both while they played for the Sabres.

Suspend OKT from the Olympics permanently

This dirty headshot by Flyers defenseman Ole Kristian Tollefson should draw a ban from the next Olympics, in my opnion.

Gorges Hit By Slapshot, But Still Lucky

Montreal Defenceman Josh Gorges was hit by a slapshot but luckily was able to walk off the ice with assistance.

Can we do anything to prevent this?

Swedish Referee Dies During Game

A 62 year old referee in Sweden died while refereeing a game for 18 year old when he was hit on the back of the head by a puck.

I hope that North American referees are protected.

Will the NHL Crack Down on Cornier?

When an 18 year old player goes into convulsions and the Premier of Quebec complains about it, maybe the NHL will do something.

NHL Must Do Better on Concussions

The NFL has been making news by finally admitting it has a concussion problem. Now new research will shine the same spotlight on the NHL.

The New York Times today reported that researchers found that the corpse of fistfighter Reggie Fleming died in part from a neurogenetive disease caused by head trauma.

The news comes as nifty Congressman John Conyers held another hearing on head injuries in football.

In both sports, the ones who pay the nastiest price are the under-21 youth. Both leagues must act now out of common decency -- and to avoid overwhelming liability in the future.