HockeyProtecting players from themselves

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With the latest unnecessary and deliberate hit to the head, I couldn't think of a better time for the NHL's general managers to be meeting than right now.

The GMs have come up with a new rule for punishing hits to the head. It still needs to be voted on and approved, but it's a step in the right direction.

'Soldiering on' part of hockey culture

Everybody should have a basic understanding of how courageous, determined NHL hockey players are. Their ability to block out pain and 'soldier on' is among the highest in professional sports.

Long before the six- and seven-figure salaries were apart of the equation, guys were doing this in minor hockey, junior, college and definitely in the minors and pros. Speaking from my own experience, the frozen peas, Absorbine Jr., tensor bandages and massages from my dad, all were a part of me 'soldiering on' since I was a skinny little stick figure.

The bus rides in junior and the minors weren't all about movies, walkmans and cards. It was about real human flesh and bones with icepacks, ultrasound and muscle stim machines all trying to heal players enough to be able to 'go' the next practice and or game. NHL planes are what they should be - top of the line!  Besides shrimp cocktail and filet mignon, I've never been on a flight where a teammate wasn't getting treated for some injury. Getting your shoulder snapped back into joint doesn't make a nice meal taste any better. Trust me on that.

Head injuries have consequences

But what good is 'soldiering on' if you can't write your name, play with your kids, go for a walk with your wife or lady, let alone play the odd street hockey or men's league game with the fellas?

This brings me back to the topic of headshots. I've played with and against enough guys who've had their careers cut short, but more importantly, had their quality of life diminished.

When the lights go off and the fans stop cheering your name, you should be able to enjoy being a son, brother, father, husband, friend or volunteer. It's pretty tough to enjoy those things when your brain is scrambled! There's enough scientific and medical research that clearly documents the impacts of concussions, which are generally a result of headshots.

All of the smart and great hockey players I've had as teammates were seldom guilty of these mindless hits. Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier were more concerned with making plays and scoring goals to help us win.

I've never seen a boxer punch an opposing fighter when he was facing his trainer or cutman! These types of hits don't show any type of toughness, rather, they're tough to watch. To deliberately hit a man while he's in a position where he's not a threat to make a play - that is, hitting a player when he's facing the boards or launching yourself at an unsuspecting opponent or targeting a player after he scores a goal - proves not how tough you are, but rather how disrespectful and cowardly you are.

Time for long suspensions, heavy fines
 
As a league we've evolved from the days where breaking an opponent's leg with a slash to beat their team was the norm. But in today's game, we still face the challenge of blind-side hits. The mentality of that type of hockey is simply antiquated. It's time for clear definition of those types of plays and severe consequences in the result of 10-15 game suspensions and HEAVY fines.

OHL commissioner David Branch has it right, bring the hammer down and let it serve as a deterrent. Hits like the Mike Richards on David Booth, Jeff Carter on Anssi Salmela, Matt Cooke on Marc Savard and Maxim Lapierre on Scott Nichol have to be eliminated and let the perpetrators face steep consequences.

I'm always a player first, and players are the product, but now players need the GMs to protect them from themselves.

At the end of the day, you're a human being longer than you'll ever be a player. And your ability to be just that must be protected. 

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