Comments on: The Concussion Pandemic & Possible Solutions

By: DCar

DCar — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:11:02 +0000

My solutions-
1- Better helmets re-enforced with kevlar & removable memory foam (no pun intended).
2- Mandatory visors.
3- All blatant hits to the head & boarding penalties are punishable by 20 game suspensions.
4- Icing should automatically be whistled, without touch-up.
5- (I know this won’t be popular) Ban fighting. No one fights in the playoffs & it protects teams from wasting $$$ & roster spots on guys like Shelly, Carcillo, Cote, etc. etc.
No to clutching & grabbing. No to changing padding, because it protects breaking bones. Hell no to the red-line.

By: vinnietheevictor

vinnietheevictor — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:28:39 +0000

Armour.

Hockey pads are insane today. Elbow pads end in some composite plastic material, that meets at a point. Anyone with an understanding of grade 8 mathematics understands that the force exerted from the end of one of these new pads has been multiplied due to the smaller surface area. That combined that they (and shoulder pads) now made of unweildingly tough material is directly leading to the increase of head trauma.

It is reaching the youth level at an alarming rate, with 2 of my neighbours and friends having taken their kids out due to their having concussions. Its to the point where I am seriously considering not registering my youngest next year….(of course I will, but will really have to weigh the pros/cons of continuing into his teens when contact allowed)

I played by whole life with padding on my pads. So did everyone else I grew up with. Did I ever get my bell rung? Sure…And I took a couple of elboes to the noggin…..but the pads were designed to absorb the impact. Pads today are designed to amplify the impact.

By: paulman

paulman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:58:57 +0000

Cosby, is just like Eagles QB M Vick, every defender hits him just a little harder and it takes a toll…

By: bugsyhawk

bugsyhawk — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:33:26 +0000

No way we can go back to clutching and grabbing. I think that you have to come down harder on the boarding and elbowing penalties where players are clearly trying to hurt other players. Look at what has happened to Crosby. I hate him, but he is a once in a generation talent who is gonna have his career shortened because everybody takes runs at him.

By: paulman

paulman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:33:13 +0000

More Space causes more speed which probably leads to bigger Collisions.. Maybe their won’t be as many hits, but the hits would probably be bigger and harder due to players having more speed,momentum behind them..
Hockey like all sports just has a Physical Nature to the game that Injuries are going to occur and then when you add Sticks,Frozen Pucks, with the speed and power that todays bigger,stronger athletes Concussions are going to happen ,more often and especialyl when the awareness of head injuries are at an all time high in sports like we see in Football..

By: Tech Triumph

Tech Triumph — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:29:43 +0000

I understand the desire to reduce concussions, but bringing back clutching and grabbing goes much too far. This is an entertainment business and there are some risks that are required to actually entertain. The clutching and grabbing would send folks racing for the exits. I don’t even know that’s a valid reason why these concussions are happening.

The forward are not involved in the play with clutching and grabbing. Dump in, defenseman holds up puck dumper, other defenseman gets puck and clears zone. It’s awful to watch and there is a product to actually sell.