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Concussions on rise in NHL
Source: Agencies |
January 31, 2011, Monday
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DESPITE the introduction of new rules designed to reduce the number of head shots, concussions remain on the rise in the National Hockey League, commissioner Gary Bettman said.
"The increase in concussions appears to be in the area of accidental or inadvertent situations, as most did not involve any contact whatsoever with the victims head by an opponent," Bettman told reporters on the eve of the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday.
"I'm not saying no concussions came from hits to the head, it appears the increase is coming from somewhere else. We don't have any answers yet."
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby topped All-Star Game voting but will not play in the showcase as he continues to suffer from post-concussion symptoms.
Crosby has missed nine games after taking a hit to the head from Washington Capitals forward David Steckel during the January 1 Winter Classic outdoors game and then was crushed into the boards by Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman four days later.
Bettman went on the defensive outlining the league's efforts to reduce concussions. He noted that a new rule introduced last March to eliminate blindside hits had been effective, resulting in a decrease in concussions from such blows. But at the same time, the league has seen a significant increase in concussions caused by accidental or inadvertent hits, such as those that sidelined Crosby.
While the NHL has invested considerable time and resources examining the impact of concussions on players it has stopped short of banning all hits to the head believing it would remove too much of the physical component that is at the game's heart. Bettman said the league will examine the data but will not be rushed into making any knee jerk changes to the existing rules.
"The increase in concussions appears to be in the area of accidental or inadvertent situations, as most did not involve any contact whatsoever with the victims head by an opponent," Bettman told reporters on the eve of the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday.
"I'm not saying no concussions came from hits to the head, it appears the increase is coming from somewhere else. We don't have any answers yet."
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby topped All-Star Game voting but will not play in the showcase as he continues to suffer from post-concussion symptoms.
Crosby has missed nine games after taking a hit to the head from Washington Capitals forward David Steckel during the January 1 Winter Classic outdoors game and then was crushed into the boards by Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman four days later.
Bettman went on the defensive outlining the league's efforts to reduce concussions. He noted that a new rule introduced last March to eliminate blindside hits had been effective, resulting in a decrease in concussions from such blows. But at the same time, the league has seen a significant increase in concussions caused by accidental or inadvertent hits, such as those that sidelined Crosby.
While the NHL has invested considerable time and resources examining the impact of concussions on players it has stopped short of banning all hits to the head believing it would remove too much of the physical component that is at the game's heart. Bettman said the league will examine the data but will not be rushed into making any knee jerk changes to the existing rules.
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