Concussion panel recommends ban on hockey fights

LONDON, Ont. — Fighting should be eliminated from hockey at all levels of the game, according to recommendations released Tuesday from an expert panel dealing with concussions in hockey.

"Fighting is one of the known causes of concussion, and may result in the related long-term complications," the panel's summary statement says. "Fighting can cause needless death."

The recommendations, resulting from meetings at the London Hockey Concussion Summit on Jan. 17-18, also calls from an elimination of high hits/head hits.

"Those are significant ones," Summit chair Dr. Paul Echlin said. "The reduction of hits from behind has had a major effect on the incidence of broken necks in hockey and similarly, the reduction of high/head hits should reduce the incidence of concussions."

Panellists on The Concussion Summit included four former players, three of whom were knocked out of the National Hockey League as the result of concussions - Eric Lindros, Jeff Beukeboom and Alyn McCauley - along with Canadian national women's team player Jennifer Botterill, who was sidelined for a protracted period with concussion.

Echlin stresses, however, that there was no consensus on all the recommendations.

"The recommendations in this statement are designed to serve as a framework for future discussion, and to promote significant change concerning the prevention, recognition, and management of concussions in hockey," the statement says.

Echlin and co-chair Dr. Charles Tator, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, put their recommendations together via e-mail with the participants after poring over the minutes of the day-after meeting.

The recommendations will go to the media, various hockey groups and medical associations.

Along with the rules recommendations, the panel advised a concussion certification program in which trainers, coaches and officials would gain knowledge aimed at recognizing and treating concussion.

Those teams that have pre-season physicals with medical professionals, Echlin said, have added benefits. Few young players ever see a doctor and physicals sometimes indicate problems other than neurological, such as cardiac-related.

Other recommendations in today's release are the adoption of an NHL/Ontario Hockey League role model program, studies leading to a data collection system, pre-season screening and a survey of protective equipment.

Echlin and Tator said were gratified by the turnout of 380 hockey people Jan. 17 and felt a step closer to their goal - a unified body that involves all levels of hockey and could expand into other sports.

Football Canada was a non-hockey participant in the recommendations along with the NHL, NHL Players' Association, the OHL, Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation along with a number of medical and therapeutic bodies.

Echlin said the prospective name for a central agency dealing with concussion is Hockey Concussion Initiative, which would first involve hockey and ultimately serve as a model for all sports in which head injuries occur such as football, soccer, rugby, skiing, skateboarding and cycling.

"Sometimes, events like the Concussion Summit are held and everyone departs until another one is held," Echlin said in an interview. "Our goal is to move forward from this and work to find solutions to a growing problem".

Echlin has hands-on experience with concussion this season.

Six of 23 players on the junior development team he works with have suffered concussion, one requiring disqualification for the remainder of the season.

Comments are now closed for this story

R. Reynolds, Ontario
said

If fighting is such an essential part of the game, perhaps the NHL should offer trophies for it? Or maybe a belt?

Murray from Sturgeon Falls
said

On the world stage hockey is nothing but a fringe sport. Even in the U.S. it ranks quite low. Only Canadians take it seriously and that is changing. Hockey is no longer the number one minor sport for children to play. Unfortunately, this will reamin so until serious changes occur.
Sport is an avenue to teach young people discipline, fair play and sportsmanship. Old school hockey does none of this. The term hockey parent does not have any positive overtones. As it stands, hockey ranks with pro wrestling as sports entertainment where the voyeur waits for blood to be shed.
I love hockey and it saddens me to see that the so called "die hard" fan appreciates fighting more so than the athleticism and beauty of the game.

F Leiter
said

Start a professional league that uses the rulebook from say, 1972. Use the same level of padding and protection, maybe a little updated, okay I'll give you that.

Watch how fast the NHL dies.

You think people want to watch European style hockey on Saturday night? You think 'those' people are the ones paying for tickets? Gimme a break.

If you don't like our game, don't watch, don't play and shut up!

rob
said

lets face it there not going to ban fighting its all about the money if they ban fighting will i stop watching my team no but i wont watch any other games either the nhl can give me my 200$ back for the center ice package when they do these polls they should have to ask people who actually watch hockey cause i know my wife is against fighting but hasnt watched a game in her life now i can listen to all these people complain what a terrible person i am cause i like a good fight in a game

G
said

Why don't we make our national sport speed basket weaving? Isn't that what all the softies that want to ban an integral part of our game want? I can't even be bothered to read the article.

Mel from Calgary
said

While there are numerous people who like the fighting in hockey there is no way of knowing how many people don't watch hockey because of the fighting.

To the people in favour of fighting; how many concussions or deaths are acceptable before you would consider a fighting ban?

Hockey is not WWC ban it!
said

Well fightring in hockey is stupid and people who suppoert it are not much better.

When you know hockey, fighting does not had anything to it.

If you want fighting go see WWC witch by the way are smarter then hockey players who fight because in their case it all fake and noone really get hurt.

DRH
said

Concussion or high hits, which is it? I have an idea. Lets have a broken leg summit on skiing or a broken neck summit on the NASCAR circuit. These are both potential sports that these types of injuries happen in and they can even cause death. Gimme a break. There are hazards and risks in all sports and everyone that plays them are aware of the potential risks involved. Whats next Jack Layton as PM? Bahhhbahh

Jack R
said

It's about time they got around to banning fights in Hockey. Play the damn game. If you want to fight, take a martial arts course, or learn boxing. Anyone fighting in the course of a hockey game should face criminal charges just like you would if you fought on the street. Arm chair tough guys have never been in a fight or they wouldn't want to keep fighting in the game.

Play the game !!
said

There is no necessity for fighting in the sport of hockey. If players want to fight let them take up boxing. There is nothing fun about being in a fight. It is both violent to the body as well as the spirit.

Total ban on fighting with penalties to match.

Play the Game
said

There are a lot of other sports that do not allow fighting , Basket ball , Football, ect , football is no wimp sport , you don't see fighting on the football field , how many of you hockey fans that love the fights say down in from the the big screen for the superbowl to watch for fights , so come on , cut the crap about you need the fights to prevent the injuries ... that's the bigest load of Bu^&^LL %$%SH $^%^IT %%$ I have ever read ..... I watch hockey to see the good plays the excellent shots .....

Cathy
said

I do not see these kinds of fight in other sports...why should hockey allow it.

Seems that fights are more and more acceptable nowadays...be they in the NHL or minor league.

The object of the game is to put the puck in the net playing like a team...goals, that is what will make you a GOOD hockey player..old fashioned way...maybe...true sport/athlete yes.

Hockey Fan
said

Comparing Boxing and UFC fights to hockey fights is irresponsible.

In UFC and Boxing, the partitipants are wearing gloves, the surface is soft, and people go in knowing what they are doing, and they train to fight.

Hockey players are trained to play hockey, the fighting is just the goon side of some people. There is no proper protection. Hard fists make direct contact with the head, and heads hit the ice. Slipping and falling is much easier and happens so fast when on skates.

Ban fighting. I might take my kids to a game.

Johnny
said

Perhaps when the 'superstar' players start dropping like flies because it's open season on them all the people with no understanding of the game will get it.

Fighting is not about just randomly picking fights, it's about protection, it's about sending a message to the other team that says, 'if you do stupid things to our players, you have to answer for it.' That is a part of the game that has to be there.

Get rid of the style of equipment players wear, you want to know what it feels like to get hit in head by an elbow pad today, even with a helmet on? Go bang you head on your car bumper!

You want to cut down on head injuries? Get rid of the helmets and get rid of the 'players' that can't play North American hockey. Most people know what the 'real' problem is with the NHL, no one wants to actually acknowledge it though.

nc
said

So many other team sports are aggressive in nature and they don't fight for show.
I heard a cbc radio show where one well known hockey player who had many fights in his career. He stated most of the time the players axctually negotiate the fight. They agree to fight just for show. If these players actually had hatred towards eachother we would have broken heads on a regular basis.
The fighting adds nothing to the game.

A No Hockey Mom
said

My boy has ADHD and is very impulsive. It has been a major effort teaching him to control his aggressive tendencies. One thing we had to do was ban him from watching hockey games. We must live what we preach and we preach that violence is never an acceptable way to deal with frustration. Hockey sets the worst of examples when you are trying to teach a kid to control his anger.
It would be nice to go back to watching games without feeling like we would be setting a bad example.

george ottawa
said

The great game of hockey will not be the same. It is a release valve. Instead of cheap shots that will really injury players. It's a guy thing. If you have never played hockey in the 70's and 80's you will never know. Banding fights will result in more violent injuries. There will be grudges that last for games. If it slows the game down, good. It's a natural safety measure. It doesn't slow it down for long. What's next, they'll have to kiss and makeup. Give the game a break. Stop trying to change it all the time. Can't please every one.

Natasha
said

First, the game you are referring to is called ringette, and ringette players also sustain concussions.

Second, if you have watch a ringette, soccer, rugby, football, basketball game (I could go on) you will realize that frustration occurs in every sport, but that some sports choose to promote self-control and respect for one's opponent over violence as a means of resolving conflict.

Don't get me wrong, I am an avid sports fan and I love hockey. What I don't understand, is why fighting, which is considered assualt in general society, is permitted within the rules of our nation's favourite pastime? Is this how we should be teaching youth to deal with their frustrations?

Kevin in Ottawa
said

An agency whose job is to say that concussions are bad is suggesting that people shouldn't hit each other in the head? The person paying for these studies must be very proud.

Joyce
said

Joe, people get frustrated for far more serious reasons than a game, but if they turn to violence they are put in jail. The same should happen in hockey. No game is worth concussions and broken necks.

Jimbo
said

I am not going to pay the kind of money they expect us to pay to go watch European Gentleman's hockey, that's what all the bleeding hearts want, figure skating, oh and why don't figure skaters wear helmets, they fall all the time and hit their heads to they not get concussions, hmmmmm

Ban fighting for good in hockey!
said

Great idea, there is not reason to have fights in a professional sport other tahn to please people that don't know that sport and to appreciate it for whay it is.

Look at football a very physical sport but there is no fighting and it's probably the best show around.

Ban all fighting in hockey and suspend for the investigators for the rest of the season everything it happend. Within a year you will illiminate this useless violance and promote the sport instead.

Eric
said

How about they phase in full facial masks like they did helmets. The excuse of them restricting vision is invalid as most of the players on the ice now wore one in junior. No one is going to throw punches with their bare fist at a steel cage. If they remove their helmet to scrap...Instant 5 game suspension.

Chris in Kingston
said

A would think a larger cause of concussions in hockey is the blatant hits from behind or hits to the head. Rarely do I see a hockey fight end with one person unable to get up, but 2-3 times a game there is someone on the ice because the players have no respect for each other. We need tougher penalties and suspensions for head hits/hits from behind, and the players will realize its not worth it.

James from Peterborough
said

All these changes to Hockey. I like the way it was played before they started making all the changes to everything. I agree with wearing helmets and protective equipment. It is just not the same as when Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky played.

C in the O.
said

Why is it we tolerate this behaviour in hockey, but in any other sport it would not? When was the last time you saw a fight break out in football? It is not tolerated there, so it simply does not happen. And for those who watch the game for the fights, get a life, you obviously don't care about the game itself.

Scott
said

Hell why not ban boxing and MMA as well then... plenty of concussions there too.

While we are at it, we could ban skiing and snowboarding as those can lead to serious head injuries... just like football.

Come on people... its always been part of the pro game. Stop trying to tinker with it. Ban fighting and people will find other ways to take out their aggression in the game, and I'd bet just about every dollar I had that you would see an increase in injuries from dirty or reactionary hits.

Joyce
said

I have stopped watching hockey because of the violence. If you want to watch violence, watch boxing. If you want a sport, watch anything but hockey or boxing.

reprobert
said

Intimidation is an integral part of the game...fighting can shift the momentum.

It keeps pesky players inline

It prevents other teams from "taking Liberties" with the highly skilled players

It limits dirty play.

Look at Brian Burke's Anaheim Ducks that won the cup...they bullied thier way to a championship. They made you pay the price eery shift, and if you couldn't stand up to them, you couldn't beat them.

Wait until you see the team he builds in TO...same thing, it is a recipe for success in the NHL.

EJK
said

People who even consider this have no understanding of the game. If they ban fighting, they'd better have EMS people lined up waiting to cart all the injured players away. You think fighting causes injuries? Get a grip, it's the idiots that think their stick is a sword or jousting pole. It's the wimpy players that are to scared and sucky to actually play the game physically so the use the stick, slew-foot everyone, check from behind.

It's not fighting that is the problem in the NHL, it's that hockey is now nothing like hockey as it should be.

You want to cut down on injuries? Dump the instigator rule, get rid of the composite armor players are wearing and being back the rule book from 1970.

If they do ban it, what are all you morons gonna blame the rise in injuries on then? Perhaps then you'll see what the problem really is, or course someone will probably be a cripple or dead from a busted neck.

James from Peterborough
said

Growing up out west, I watched Hockey Night In Canada every Saturday night on CBC. The rivalry between certain teams were fierce and the tempo of the game sometimes allowed players to fight. There were not the serious injuries you see from fighting today and there was always respect.

I agree with fighting in the NHL if two players want to fight. I think fighting teams reduce the amount of stick work and raising of sticks which really causes serious injuries.

Michelle
said

People die...from complications or are seriously injured for life...it can't be a sport without the punching? Sounds like that's not really about talent to me

Ken in Ottawa
said

It's all about the game. A good hockey game is great to watch. Fighting is not scored. Fighting is not necessary. Then why allow it? In what other sport would you allow this kind of behaviour besides boxing?

Mike from Niagara
said

Sure...ban fighting from hockey....right after Boxing and the UFC become illegal.

Give me a break

LS
said

The idea is to help prevent concussion. Regardless of what Don Cherry or anyone else says, I find hockey without fights more enjoyable to watch. Boxing and wrestling have their own leagues.

Joe
said

Lets just quit the game and play ring et instead. People get frustrated in this game and fights will happen. If you are worried about your family member getting hurt, than dont sign them up or find a different sport. Keep changing the game and their wont be any hockey as we know it.

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