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.