A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Posts tagged Injuries
NHL sends a clear message : Dangerous hits are status quo
Mar 10th
Blame the post not the hit
In a predictable turn of events the NHL came down with a strong position on the dangerous hit that left Max Pacioretty with a severe concussion and a broken C4 vertebrae.
“After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly — with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.
“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career.” – Mike Murphy, NHL
“The hockey play”. 3 words that can be used to explain anything that happens on the ice. Explaining the play does what? Why not try to eliminate dangerous plays.
There is absolutely no mention if Pacioretty could defend himself in anyway in this hit. League didn’t speak to him. Nothing. NHL Law.
Nothing in terms of any concern that a hit is possibly thrown on a player in vulnerable position.
There seems to be a bit of a difference between “NHL rules” and “society rules” however.
Somehow, in society, if you’re driving your car…. which is something alot of us tend to do from time to time…. if you drive to fast or recklessly… and happen to accidentally drive into a crowd of people or a pedestrian walking…. you’ll likely get charged with dangerous driving, careless driving…. whatever the charge.
But gosh, you didn’t mean to. Why was the pedestrian there?
Well, in society (and I’m sorry if the analogy isn’t 100% in line with NHL punitive system), we try to have people be responsible for their actions… even if they did not mean to “directly” cause harm in some way.
This blog article is not about Chara, I’ve been sickened by the list of serious injuries and the lack of accountability on players in so many cases. There is no clear line…. and seemingly no line or stand by the NHL or NHLPA to take these hits out of the league. Ultimately, it has little to do with a player’s intent. There has to be a strong position by this league and NHLPA to protect the players.
Another concerning part about the NHL’s punitive process… they speak to the aggressor but they don’t even speak with the victim. That is an “investigation”? Brilliant.
Time for change
And so many “experts” are pretty much saying…. “blame the post“. Are you serious? That is not a very intelligent stand. I don’t think you guys could become lawyers with that defense.
Ridiculous
This is a sport and these are life threatening injuries. Enough.
Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty
Mar 9th
Last night we witnessed what is becoming all too common in the NHL. I will post my thoughts on it in a separate article. For anyone who missed it here was Zdeno Chara’s late hit on Max Pacioretty.
Hockey and Traumatic Brain Injury
May 12th
I was recently contacted by Chelsea Travers of CareMeridian about publishing an article relating to traumatic brain injuries and hockey. I’m glad to publish the article.
Author Bio:
Chelsea Travers is an outreach representative for CareMeridian, a subacute care facility located throughout the Western United States for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or medical complexities, such as neuromuscular or congenital anomalies.
Hockey and TBI
Hockey is arguably one of the most physical professional sports. Hockey players are constantly getting body checked, slammed into boards, falling to the ice, slapped by a stick, hit by a dense, speeding puck or getting punched during a fight. If that isn’t bad enough, hockey players take part in one of the longest regular seasons of any sport, effectively taking on harsher pain for a longer amount of time throughout the year. Risk of injury couldn’t be clearer as you all too commonly see hockey players missing their front two teeth. With all of the injuries that can occur, one of the most dangerous is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is a silent injury that can cause harm to the mind and body of an individual. An injury to the head or brain can alter someone’s life and can even require long-term rehabilitation and care from a skilled nursing facility. These injuries are often far too common in the sport of hockey and if not properly treated can permanently leave a hockey player’s life challenging than the game they play.
More >
Metropolit done for the year
Mar 30th
Yet another injury it seems for the Habs.
Glen Metropolit who had a pretty strong season with the Canadiens with 16 goals (career high) and 13 assists will likely be done for the year.
According to this RDS article, it seems that he’ll be meeting with doctors to access an injury to his left shoulder.
It seems to me that with the opportunities that were given to Metropolit, power play time… etc. He sure made the best of it. Though I don’t want this to sound as though Metro was “the best” or the “most skilled” player on the ice, he certainly gave his all in my opinion. And at times I was really surprised by his passing skills.
I’ll miss you Glen. When the Habs first traded for you, all I knew is that you had played for Philly and the season before for the rival Bruins. Thanks for the great season!
Hope Travis Moen is ok
Mar 24th
The other night as most people have seen, Travis Moen got Cullen’s skate to the forehead…. causing a really nasty cut and lots of blood.
I could help but go back to that moment all game long. Maybe that fact was made easier by the seeming lack of effort that the Habs showed on the ice.
My very best wishes go out to him.
Travis had a streak going this year. He was one in 3 players who had worn the Habs uniform in every season game (along with Plekanec and Gorges who probably should have missed one due to blocking a slap shot with his head).
