With so many NHL player's missing time this season because of concussions, I have decided to examine the effects that this has on two things. The first is the world of fantasy hockey, the second is the NHL owner's.
Fantasy owner's around the world have seen stars such as Sidney Crosby, Claude Giroux and Chris Pronger miss time with concussions. For owner's of Crosby and Pronger, this issue has lasted much of the season, and it appears as if it could go on for the remainder of the year. The impact that these injuries have on fantasy owner's is huge. Many still had Crosby as a top 10 pick this season, so virtually throwing away your first round pick could be devastating. If you are paying to play, an injury of this nature could cost you big money. These player's are basically un-tradeable because of their injuries, but it would be difficult to put them on free agents in fear that someone else picks them up and they come back. So therein lies the issue facing fantasy owners this season, do you hold onto the player and ride out the injury, or drop him and risk someone else picking him up. Decisions, decisions.
If you think fantasy owner's are the only ones struggling, think again.While fantasy owner's may lose $50-$100, NHL owners could be losing millions because of their star player's being out. The Pittsburgh Penguins have had 9 different players suffer concussions 11 times this season. Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek are all big name, big money players who have missed time for the Penguins this year. Philadelphia Flyer's captain Chris Pronger has basically had his career ended because of concussions, and leading scorer Claude Giroux missed time after a freak accident earlier this year.
The impact of these player's being out is huge on the ice and off the ice. While teams have to find players to replace their stars, owners lose money because ticket sales drop. Crosby has been known to sell out arena's everywhere he has went ever since junior, so missing a player like that is a huge loss to owners. Giroux was one of the hottest names in the league early this year as he shot to the top of the scoring race. Having a young player who is easy to identify with miss time because of concussions could be a big loss to the ticket sales of both the Flyer's and the teams they play on the road.
Thursday 26 January 2012
Sunday 22 January 2012
Concussion Epidemic: Juggling School and Concussions
For those of us who watch sports, we only see what happens during the games. Every once in awhile we will be fortunate enough to get a behind the scenes look into a dressing room or a team gym. But rarely do we get to see what happens after a player suffers a serious injury, in this case, a concussion. For a long time in hockey, people didn't miss games because of concussions, they missed games with what were called "upper body injuries". Now, steps have been taken to raise awareness of concussions, but this hasn't helped us to see what happens after a player suffers a serious injury.
Brad McConnell might not be a household name, but concussions have had a major effect on him. McConnell, a forward for the University of Dalhousie, has not stepped on the ice in four months after suffering a concussion during an exhibition game. He has been warned not to do any physical activity, even walking to much could be harmful. As athletes, we all know that sitting back and watching our team play, or not being able to workout with our friends is a serious blow to our self esteem. But this lack of physical activity is not the worst thing that has happened to McConnell. Life at school is what has been given McConnell the most problems. Simple things like reading and using a computer would heighten his symptoms.
For a student in post secondary school, missing class isn't a viable option. Trying to catch up after missing a few classes is a mountainous task. The fact that McConnell is on a full ride scholarship doesn't make things any easier for him.
Having been through all of this before, I know how McConnell is feeling. I had no problem pulling off high 80's and low 90's in high school, but after a few concussions, 70's became a thing to look forward to. Simple things like the lights being to bright in a classroom could cause headaches, and the embarrassment of not being able to control your sweat glands is enough to drive any teenager insane. But none of these things compare to the feeling of simply not being yourself. I spent months just going through the motions with regards to school and just life in general. It was like having an out of body experience for a full year.
Individuals who suffer concussions often feel isolated because of invisible symptoms. There are no scars or broken bones on display when someone has a concussion. For student athletes, this isolation can be even worse. Often times, an athletes main peer group is the team he/she plays for. When they are taken away from that team, the individual can often feel lost.
In a study conducted at Dalhousie by Dr. Kevin Gordan, he estimated that there are 110 concussions for every 100,000 Canadians. For student athletes, the stress of missing out on their sports, their friends, and their grades can take away from the one thing that can help a concussion, rest. It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and to encourage student athletes to rest as much as possible, so they will be able to continue doing what they love. If you are a member of a team where an athlete suffers a concussion, it is important to try and make that person feel like he/she is still on the team. Many people misjudge the effects that concussions can have, and hopefully this changes in the near future.
Brad McConnell might not be a household name, but concussions have had a major effect on him. McConnell, a forward for the University of Dalhousie, has not stepped on the ice in four months after suffering a concussion during an exhibition game. He has been warned not to do any physical activity, even walking to much could be harmful. As athletes, we all know that sitting back and watching our team play, or not being able to workout with our friends is a serious blow to our self esteem. But this lack of physical activity is not the worst thing that has happened to McConnell. Life at school is what has been given McConnell the most problems. Simple things like reading and using a computer would heighten his symptoms.
For a student in post secondary school, missing class isn't a viable option. Trying to catch up after missing a few classes is a mountainous task. The fact that McConnell is on a full ride scholarship doesn't make things any easier for him.
Having been through all of this before, I know how McConnell is feeling. I had no problem pulling off high 80's and low 90's in high school, but after a few concussions, 70's became a thing to look forward to. Simple things like the lights being to bright in a classroom could cause headaches, and the embarrassment of not being able to control your sweat glands is enough to drive any teenager insane. But none of these things compare to the feeling of simply not being yourself. I spent months just going through the motions with regards to school and just life in general. It was like having an out of body experience for a full year.
Individuals who suffer concussions often feel isolated because of invisible symptoms. There are no scars or broken bones on display when someone has a concussion. For student athletes, this isolation can be even worse. Often times, an athletes main peer group is the team he/she plays for. When they are taken away from that team, the individual can often feel lost.
In a study conducted at Dalhousie by Dr. Kevin Gordan, he estimated that there are 110 concussions for every 100,000 Canadians. For student athletes, the stress of missing out on their sports, their friends, and their grades can take away from the one thing that can help a concussion, rest. It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and to encourage student athletes to rest as much as possible, so they will be able to continue doing what they love. If you are a member of a team where an athlete suffers a concussion, it is important to try and make that person feel like he/she is still on the team. Many people misjudge the effects that concussions can have, and hopefully this changes in the near future.
Monday 16 January 2012
Concussion Epidemic: The Beginning
As I stated in my profile description, I will be blogging about the recent concussion epidemic that is sweeping through the National Hockey League. For this first post, I will focus on the impact that a single player has had on the entire NHL and concussions in particular.
Obviously concussions are something that have been around for quite some time, especially in a contact sport such as hockey. The biggest difference between the early days of hockey and our current era is that we have studied head injuries and are determined to limit the number that occur. I have had coaches tell me that if they got a head injury back when they played, they would sniff some smelling salts and return to the ice for the following shift. In todays world, that is not acceptable. The brains of the NHL have developed the "quiet room", a place where players go after they take a hard hit or suffer a possible concussion to be evaluated. This quiet room allows the doctors to examine the player without any distractions. There has also been a crackdown on head shots with regards to more strict penalties being given to offenders. A player will no longer be able to run around the ice laying illegal checks without suffering the consequences. While these steps taken to prevent head injuries are a positive sign, there is little doubt that these changes may not have been made if it was not for a single player.
Sidney Crosby has been the face of the NHL since he made his first appearance in the 2005-2006 season. He was named the top athlete under the age of 25 by the Sporting News in 2010, he has already captained his team, the Pittsburg Penguins, to a Stanley Cup, and he scored the golden goal for team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Even with all of these acheivment, it is the head injury that Sidney Crosby suffered that has had the biggest effect on the NHL. Crosby spoke out about head injuries. He was determined to help change the game so that players would be safe. He is obviously aware hockey is a contact sport, but limiting checks that are directed at the head of opponents was his goal, and luckily, the league listened.
Of course Crosby is not the only star player to be sidelined by a concussion. Boston Bruins center Marc Savard has not played in over a year because of post-concussion symptoms, and veteran defenseman Chris Pronger recently said his career is in jeapordy because of concussions. Former stars such as Pat Lafontaine and Eric Lindros have seen their careers end far to early because of head injuries. But as all of these players have suffered the after results of concussions, the issue did not become known until Crosby was forced to miss time because of his own concussion like symptoms.
It was the impact that Crosby made off the ice that has forced the NHL to make major changes when it comes to diagnosing concussions. It has also forced players to think twice before heading back on the ice if they are not feeling right. Players this season are being diagnosed with concussions more than ever, and while some people have said Crosby is a "baby" for not playing, they are quite wrong. I know first hand what can happen when you return to soon from concussions. Second Impact Syndrom is the term used to describe a person who has not had their initial concussion heal before they suffer another one. I have been that person. I was told that if I continued to play and suffered another concussion, it could be the last thing I do.
So while some people look at Crosby and the changes that have been made in the NHL in a negative light, I do not. I believe the NHL needed change. I am all for contact and I love fighting, but intentionally targeting an opponents head is not what hockey is about. Concussions in the NHL are a serious issue, and without the help of the NHL's brightest star, it would be the fans who would suffer from watching their favorite players have their careers end early, and nobody wants that to happen.
Below I have attached an interview that James Duthie of TSN did with Crosby about his concussion. This is not my original video, but I feel that it does an excellent job of showing how Crosby feels about head injuries, and how badly he wants to return to the ice. Enjoy.
Obviously concussions are something that have been around for quite some time, especially in a contact sport such as hockey. The biggest difference between the early days of hockey and our current era is that we have studied head injuries and are determined to limit the number that occur. I have had coaches tell me that if they got a head injury back when they played, they would sniff some smelling salts and return to the ice for the following shift. In todays world, that is not acceptable. The brains of the NHL have developed the "quiet room", a place where players go after they take a hard hit or suffer a possible concussion to be evaluated. This quiet room allows the doctors to examine the player without any distractions. There has also been a crackdown on head shots with regards to more strict penalties being given to offenders. A player will no longer be able to run around the ice laying illegal checks without suffering the consequences. While these steps taken to prevent head injuries are a positive sign, there is little doubt that these changes may not have been made if it was not for a single player.
Sidney Crosby has been the face of the NHL since he made his first appearance in the 2005-2006 season. He was named the top athlete under the age of 25 by the Sporting News in 2010, he has already captained his team, the Pittsburg Penguins, to a Stanley Cup, and he scored the golden goal for team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Even with all of these acheivment, it is the head injury that Sidney Crosby suffered that has had the biggest effect on the NHL. Crosby spoke out about head injuries. He was determined to help change the game so that players would be safe. He is obviously aware hockey is a contact sport, but limiting checks that are directed at the head of opponents was his goal, and luckily, the league listened.
Of course Crosby is not the only star player to be sidelined by a concussion. Boston Bruins center Marc Savard has not played in over a year because of post-concussion symptoms, and veteran defenseman Chris Pronger recently said his career is in jeapordy because of concussions. Former stars such as Pat Lafontaine and Eric Lindros have seen their careers end far to early because of head injuries. But as all of these players have suffered the after results of concussions, the issue did not become known until Crosby was forced to miss time because of his own concussion like symptoms.
It was the impact that Crosby made off the ice that has forced the NHL to make major changes when it comes to diagnosing concussions. It has also forced players to think twice before heading back on the ice if they are not feeling right. Players this season are being diagnosed with concussions more than ever, and while some people have said Crosby is a "baby" for not playing, they are quite wrong. I know first hand what can happen when you return to soon from concussions. Second Impact Syndrom is the term used to describe a person who has not had their initial concussion heal before they suffer another one. I have been that person. I was told that if I continued to play and suffered another concussion, it could be the last thing I do.
So while some people look at Crosby and the changes that have been made in the NHL in a negative light, I do not. I believe the NHL needed change. I am all for contact and I love fighting, but intentionally targeting an opponents head is not what hockey is about. Concussions in the NHL are a serious issue, and without the help of the NHL's brightest star, it would be the fans who would suffer from watching their favorite players have their careers end early, and nobody wants that to happen.
Below I have attached an interview that James Duthie of TSN did with Crosby about his concussion. This is not my original video, but I feel that it does an excellent job of showing how Crosby feels about head injuries, and how badly he wants to return to the ice. Enjoy.
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