Modern equipment contributes to head injuries

In response to Toms comment that the best hockey was played years and years ago, I would suggest that he remove his rose coloured glasses and see the modern game for what it is. The third period of the last Detroit-Penguins Stanley Cup hockey game was one of the most exciting periods of hockey that I have ever seen and many of my friends say the same thing. Sure I am a sentimental fan of the "good ole days" of hockey, but todays game is much faster, more physical and many times more exciting than any game of any era. I can't wait for the next game Saturday night!

The NHL is not what it was, and it will probably never be the great hockey that was seen decades ago. Between the Refs, the equipment, and all the money, there is little about the NHL that makes it worthy of awarding the Stanley Cup to any of its teams. The only place I see great hockey any more is in International Hockey. The refs can't afford to be one-sided at this level. The ice is larger to keep the play moving. And most importantly, the player are there to play for the pride of them selves and their country. Istead of playing for whomever pays them more. The NHL has forgoten about the game and focused on thier own profit margin. This aplies to both owners and players. I watch 2-5 NHL games a year just to see if thing have gotten getter. and it rarley does. The only team I always watch is TEAM CANADA. We are a top contender in every series we play in, and its rare that we fail to prove that Canada is Hockey.

I want to take this moment to thank those at cbc for a terific job again this year of bring the stanely cup playoffs to my home. I really enjoyed each telecast and they helped me get through some long evenings at work. I would like to place a special thanks to Ron and Don. Your between periods look on things were once again entertaining and insightful. You two never disappoint and continue to make hockey night in Canada the channel to watch between periods. On second thought, I actually never thought of it much but I fel I need to mention it. For those few occasions I stay up late and watch the second game of the double headers, I want to thank Kelly for his "behind the mask". He has in my mind become an excelent partner with "coaches corner" and he too has kept me from wondering the channels between periods. Kelly... you really know your stuff
Thanks to you all Jon

I'm a Canadian who's been living here for the last year and a half. I've tried to introduce hockey to some American friends, but they think the NHL has become too sissified. They expect to see a fight or two. After all, they've heard that there's fighting in hockey. BTW, Americans just don't know how to call a game or present it well on television.

Secondly, with regards to equipment, if the league moved to softer gear, not only would it result in fewer injuries due to being whatcked by robo-gear, but players would temper how hard they hit someone because don't forget, their equipment protects them also, and you can injure yourself delivering a huge check.

Additionally, Cherry didn't say that Americans don't want violence in the game. He said that the NHL felt they had to remove the voilence if they were to increase their US market share. This is a skewed view of what the US market would like to see. As Cherry said, the US market does support sports which tend to be violent, like NFL, Nascar, and Ultimate Fighting. Frankly, I've heard more whinning from the Canadian media about violence in hockey than from any other sector. It's that group of crybabies that the league has responded to.

Lastly, Bettman has to go. He's been bad for the game since day one. It's true that he's created more expansion, therefore more revenue for the prevailing owners, but that expansion hasn't necessarily been good for hockey. It's watered the game down too much. There may be alot of parity in the game, but parity at a mediocre level dosen't hold a candle to parity at a level of excellence.

Personally, I can't believe the owners think there's no one else available in the whole world who could do a better job of promoting and marketing our great game. If the owners truly think that Bettman's the finest choice available, then they are a doomed lot.

Sour grapes from Neil on Pronger. This will be something that ALL tall players will have to deal with in the near future. I do agree that shots to the head are bush though. Neil must have been in the bathroom when Schubert took several strides to earn his elbowing penalty to the head in the second period of game 5. Are we only paying attention to these penalties after someone gets hurt though? Seems that way.

Don is funny and all but his argument about the equipment being too hard (in defense of Pronger's cheap shot) is really lame. Pronger should have been gone for the rest of the playoffs just like Dean McAmmond. What is worse is that Pronger was the first guy that Ron MacLean interviewed tonight following the Duck's victory. Ron appears to be condoning what Pronger did.
Elbows to the head have nothing to do with good CLEAN physical hockey.

If Ottawa wants to get back in this game, they gotta stop scoring on themselves!

Two goals in their net off the sticks of their own players?

You'd think their coach was Steve Smith.....

Don,

When do You start Your new job at NBC? You were great the other nite. The US needs You!!

Some key points to enlighten Ben from Kitchener.

The Support Our Troops merchandise that was displayed on Coaches Corner was part of a awareness campaign that is about the troops and supporting the troops. While Afghanistan is top of mind Canada has troops stationed all over the world in numerous capacities. This mention was not in support in the war rather it was giving credit and thanks to ALL troops and their families.

The proceeds of this merchandise go directly back to moral and welfare programs for the troops and their families (sporting events, recreation centers, health and fitness programs etc.). In the past year $1 million was raised as a result of this campaign.

Don, Ron and Coaches Corner should be thanked for their patriotism and pride they fostered by standing behind this initiative. Canada needs more high profile ambassadors that are willing to stand strong in support of those who serve.

Wearing the yellow ribbon or purchasing “Support or Troops” merchandise is giving thanks, honor and respect to those who are protecting your country.....something you may want to consider.

Hey Don!
I think you should auction your suits to support the troops!
Cheers!

Give it up, you cannot win when the NHL clearly wants the ducks to win tonight and has their officials calling the game one sided.

Sad for hockey when the most pena;ized team, can score tha gaol and run the goalie in the same p;ay.

what will the ducks have to do you get them lucky sens on the golf course. go ducks go.ottawa sucks

Don,

I saw you put brett hull in his place, "you should talk about feet in the crease", I've watched it on my DVR about 20 times. Just about every broadcast when Buffalo was still in the playoffs, hull's partner seemed to lob him a softball so he could mention how that goal was legal(if it was, why did the change the rule the NEXT day?). It's painful to watch that guy gloat every day. please keep putting that guy in his place. Hull's treying to be NBC's personality, he is NO Don Cherry.

Thank god we get CBC in Buffalo.

Don, thanks for being on NBC. I hope you showed the NBC execs how a intermission report should be done.

I go here at the University of Michigan and I go skating a few times a week at our school's rink. I often invite a few "non-skaters" (from Greece, Germany, France, etc) and they are obviously scared in the beginning and wanna wear padding. I keep telling them that if they don't fall and get hurt, they will never learn because when you get hurt you know you won't make that mistake again. This is just to show that I'm trying to spread your teachings to occasional skaters.

I agree with suspending players for blows to the head and I think Don is on the right track in his views that the hard elbow pads must go. Back in the days before helmets and hard plastic elbow pads you never saw anyone, not even mister elbows go for someone’s head.
While I’m handing out suspensions here, Daniel Alfredsson should be handed one for his slap shot at Scott Niedermayer. There is no place in Hockey for actions like this. In my opinion this is a deliberate attempt to injure. The C on the front of his shirt obviously stands for coward.

Great Show Ron and Don,
Just a note to Pronger. What goes around comes around so it would be best for you to wear a facemask next year as opposing teams do not appreciate TWO defencemen propping up a player and throwing an elbow into someone's skull. Just a thought.
Sincerely,
A Fan of Chris Phillips and Wade Redden
A F Armstrong ;)
PS Ducks suck algae

Equipment is a big problem. Please have Don Cherry comment on the amount of injuries, Groin injuries because of plastic caps on the knees instead of leather whih would allow you legs to stay together when you go down!

At what point will we stop awarding the biggest prize in hockey to a team that in two rounds has potentially ruined the careers of two players. While having the most violent record, that is far exceeding any other team in the league.

As part of the suspension the whole team should be punished to deter behavior like Prongers from being tolerated.
Talent is not how many physical injuries, intimidation and illegal hits you can get away with but your ACTUAL talent. The behavior displayed by Anaheim leaves something to be desired from the perspective of team sports. It has been disgraceful and I will be sure to pass on to other people I know that the NHL condones unsportsmen like behavior they actually award it by giving the least deserving team in the NHL the cup. I don't take this perspective lightly as my best friend is Dustin Penners cousin.

But making it as far as they have has not be reflective of talent but of shear intimidation in the form of career threatening hits and fighting. Which inevitably will lead to another Bertuzzi style incident. The league can not afford anymore bad publicity and yet they are getting it with a team like Anaheim representing them as the best team in the league.

Return to the SOFT EQUIPMENT. Our players are bigger, stronger, so they don't need the plastic armour that they use to whack others around. We don't need to change the game. Let the guys wear the softer pads, as in the 70's, and they won't want to hurt themselves in the hitting department!

Tx for all the "straight talk" and support of police and troops.

I get a little tired of watching our Canadian Players on the Amrican teams helping to keep the Stanley Cup from where it belong ie in Canada.
If the Russian and other European Countries can force a stipend from NHL Teams for their players that make it in the NHL, Why can't Canada do the same?
Lets say any Canadian Player who wants to go south, turns 25% of his salary over to a Canadian organization that provides funding to amateur hockey in Canada. Without this organization many of the "stars" playing in the south would not have made it.
If however, the player play for a Canadian team he doesn't pay the 25%.
Maybe then we would not have where 70% of the Ducks are Canadian and are helping a "lame duck " team (which they would be without our Canadian talent)take our cup with the "borrowed talent"

Jack Byrne

I confess I only watch the finals of Stanley Cup each season. I appreciate the athleticism of the teams and the passion the Canadians have for their sport. Here's to good media coverage and honest hockey!

All the best to everyone!!!!!!

Don, I usually shake my head at what comes out of your mouth, but this time, I shake your virtual hand. These modern day ROBOCOPS are better armoured than our Canadian Troops in the Middle East. Pronger's ignorant respect for other players, for the league, and for the fans that make this game as big as it is dis-colours what the sport really means. It is due in part to the bionic padding that Pronger (and other players) wear, using it to injure rather than protect themselves. Anton Volchenkov wears his gear to block shots, not to kick the head off an opposing player. Speak louder Don, help to protect our warriors on ice.

Dear Mr. Cherry, I strongly disagree with your opinion that violence in hockey is 'enjoyed' by most Canadians. I don't know of a single person in all of our hockey friends who think fighting has any place in a hockey game. To be able to see a good hockey game that is played with speed and skill is a pleasure. For example, there is no violence in a good soccer match. Yet thousands, tens of thousands of people enjoy watching soccer. Why do you think hockey needs fighting to make it interesting?

I think Ottawa needs to give Mcgratten a chance to go into the next game and show the team what he can do...he is a tough gun, maybe just maybe he might be there shining light at the end of the tunnel.

Go sens go!

If you want to fix hockey (and I have been saying this for years). First fire Bettman. He doesn't know a thing about hockey and its traditions. Second put the orignal conference and division names/teams back in place. Third remove the instigator rule. How many players wouldn't have gotten hurt if the knew that a cheap shot to a player meant someone like Probert or Domi was going to rearrange your face for the remainder of the game.

Most true fans are completely annoyed by the new NHL and the league is not attracting new fans. I used to watch 60-80 games a year (pre-lockout), now I may watch 10 and I am really not that interested in the sport since they sissified it.

The equipment has gotten bigger and built with stronger material which when hit in a unprotected area will cause injury. This is why scoring is down alot. Look at the goaltenders. The average goaltender is at least 6 foot tall without any equipment, then they put on the big equipment, a player cannot even see the net when coming down on him. Then add the defensive scheme. This makes it real hard to score goals. The solution is not to make the net bigger. But make the equipment smaller. Heck look at how big the catching glove is. With big goalies and equipment its all about positioning now.

I agree with Don Cherry on fighting. Look Americans watch UFC fighting, they love boxing. UFC fighters are trained to hurt each other, knock their opponent out. This is way more brutal than a NHL fight. But grtting back to the truth of the matter. Enforcers keep the other team honest. The instigator rule should be taken out. The league cannot police everything. Personal accountability will stop all the cheap shots that are being dished out. You see there are players that are straight out punks. They hit you with a cheap shot because they know that there won't be any retalliation because the other team doesn't want to get an extra 2 minute penalty. But without the rule. When that player dishes out a cheap shot and then gets his rear beat down. He won't do it again. Further knowing that you'll get your rear kicked for doing this will prevent players from doing it.

Bravo Grapes,
You hit the nail on the head last night on NBC. Old time hockey needs to return! Eliminating the instigator will help clean up the dirty stick work and allow the enforcers to protect the stars. As the most underrated coach in NHL history (see 11 twenty goal scorers one year in Boston), Grapes would make a hell of a commisioner. Tampa loves grapes!!

After watching the game last night & seeing Don on NBC, I realized how poor US broadcast of hockey has become. I really would like to see Ottawa & Canada win the cup, but with US announcers proclaiming with such glory how the Ducks did this or that wonderful thing, I feel I cannot watch hockey in the US any more.

The commissioner, the broadcasters, they have all failed to bring hockey to the US audience. They don't call the game right, they spend 1/2 the game recollecting about the past and not actually calling the game. And I wonder what the announcers do to the players in the locker room sometimes.

The NHL has alienated another (hardcore) US fan. I love to watch, play, and even photograph hockey when I get the chance. But not the NHL now. I'll fill in with college and the occasional CBC/hockey night in canada stuff I can find here.

How about Don Cherry for NHL Commissioner? Go Sens!

With my satellite dish I never miss Hockey Night in Canada and Coaches Corner during the regular season. But, in the playoffs I have to watch my hockey on either Verses or NBC. Both of those networks try to do a good job, but they pale in comparison to the fantastic hockey coverage of the CBC. I was so happy to see Don Cherry on the NBC intermission show last night. It was clearly evident that what the NBC lacks is a personality like Mr. Cherry for their productions.
Hopefully they learned a thing or two.
I am looking forward to seeing Coaches Corner again on the US networks again soon.

Thank you Don and Ron for supporting our troops. I like to think that you do this for all of us who do not have a platform to do so. It is great to see celebrity individuals like yourselves supporting our men and women who are overseas.

I thought Don Cherry did a very fine job during NBC's 2nd Intermission Monday night. I also thought Don made the point quite clearly that fighting has been, and should always be, an integral part of the game.
After having watched Don Cherry through the years with his "Don Cherry's Grapevine," and his "Coach's Corner" segment on HNIC, I am convinced that his presence on U.S. television can only serve to help the game's popularity in America, at a time where, unfortunately, hockey's popularity suffers.

Ottawa needs to play Gratts and send the message that the manhandling and abuse of their goalie is over. Whatever plan they have is not working and the zebras don't even call half of what Anaheim deserves. So what have they got to lose? The Ducks say this is playoff hockey, so lets give them playoff hockey, OLD SCHOOL.

CBC= Cup Belongs in Cranbrook!!

It would be something to see Scott Neidermayer grab the cup and pass it to his brother Rob to be the first Duck to lift the Stanley cup!

Go Ducks Go!

I live in a small farm town in Missouri, USA. I have always lived here. I have been a hockey fan for over 35 years. My husband and I have been watching HNIC for the last 4 years.Don Cherry is the best!
The idea that Americans don't like fighting in the NHL is a joke. If the Amerian media thinks toning down the so called violence in the NHL will bring more fans, they're wrong. The media here also tend to think we only know the superstars of the game like Crosby, Malkin, or Nash. They would be surprized to know we also like Reasoner, Langkow, Gelinas, Schaefer... the gritty players that get the job done without all the fanfare.
Some of us even stay up late to watch the West coast games.
I just wanted to say that there are US fans out here, far from the big towns, that really like hockey, understand the game, and have 30 years worth of collected cards, just like you.
The American sports media needs to stop trying to lead us by the hand. Let us see the good, the bad, and the ugly. We can handle it!

Come on, How much did Anaheim pay the refs I haven't heard that one since Squirts. Anaheim is winning because they are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Ottawawa has been diving more than Greg Louganis and it isn't working. Even the hit on McAmmond if he was out "before he hit the ice" how was he able to raise his arms to his face while sliding into the boards.

Good on you guys for reminding Canadians that we need to support the troops. I think it's great that the troops overseas are getting some public support from you. The men and women over there are doing a fantastic job - rebuilding roads and schools - among other things. Hockey is such a part of Canadian culture that they were playing it in Afghanistan. Sport or not, I will stand up and cheer for any Canadian soldier.

I'm goiny to make you eat your own words Don about the no touch iciny.Your comment on the Ducks nifty play at the start of the game. I hope you have'nt fogot all the foamy at the mouth you made about no touch iciny early in the season. If you want to make hockey better don't screw with the rules. On one note about Ottawa tonight I think Heatly should've bin bench half way though the third period,he was just floating out there.

The officiating is horrible...but a lot of it is favoring the Sens. I'm cheering for the Sens, but the slashing call on Beauchemin was bad, and the interference call on Getzlaf that led to Alfie's goal was atrocious.

I hate the American media coverage of the NHL. I'm very grateful for the fine analysis and news I get from this site. Thanks guys!

GO BLUES!

I jsut watched the post-game online show, and what a croc! No one is commenting on how the Ducks are getting away with all the obstruction fouls that during the regular season were being called time and time again. The "new" NHL, remember? Just not in the play-offs; then it's back to the pre-lockout crap. There's not enough calls on the cheap shots certain Ducks are dishing out, including the much vaunted Scott Niedermeyer. His elocution in front of the media belies the fact he's a bloody cheap shot artist, who can skate. If he couldn't, we'd be hearing how much of a thug he is. The Ducks are getting away with crashing and banging, obstruction, cheap shots, and it's ruining what should be a much better series. I think the Ducks have realized the league can't call EVERYTHING, otherwise there would be no game at all, so just do it and let the zebras make the calls, which they aren't.

the sens are showing alot of class their not holding interfering running the goalie spearing and the head shot( one game for the second offense and no appologies thats ridiculous), what happened to the no holding or interferring to make the game better the ducks do this every shift and no pentaly called iam embarrassed for them they may win the cup but their is no class at all. why do the refs let it go better yet why does the league let it go we wait all year long for this, the league is an embarrassment to all the fans. no wonder seats are not selling everyone is losing interest. this is a disgrace ratings are falling also even networks cut out overtime. its falling apart the game has lost its appeal. I for one will be going out to buy a sens ball cap and jersey and wear it with pride they are a class act.

Every year in the playoffs it's the SAME story!

You can tell who's going to be in the cup final and who's going to win -just by the corrupt refereeing!

Honestly,the game has 2 refs and they still can't do their job right!

Anaheim is winning because they're a dirty team and they're getting away with everything short of murder!Naturally,some of the Sens palyer are getting more than a little peeved about it -afterall how much have the refs been paid to ignore Anaheim's dirty tactics!?

A few times they've been penalized for goaltender interference -but they got away with it a LOT more times!That's right,constantly trying to run over Ray Emery!

A few times this dirty team was penalized for holding,hooking,slashing and everything else -but the ref let them off with a LOT more!

Last year,in the Carolina series,we saw the same supicious refereeing!They wouldn't have won otherwise!Nobody will forget "Jason 'the hacker' Williams who 2x slashed a Habs player's face and the refs never even called it!

It's long overdue time that there was an investigation into the corrupt refereeing!

I totally agree with John McGeehan's comment.
As a hardcore fan for over 40 yrs,
i can't believe what the so called; "NEW-NHL",
has come too. CHERRY has been complaning about, the suit of armour the player's wear.
Now everbody is a tuff guy. People got brain,
washed into thinking;" O' THEIR BIGGER, FASTER
NOW". Well i beg to differ.... Put back the,
leather padding the player's used to wear.
Then you would'nt see all the concussion's.
Just think, you might be able to go back to,
the day's where there were no helmet's.
Now that was great because you could really,
identify with the player's. How and why can,
the power's that be change the rules so much.
That it's a totally different game. $$$$
What a shame....

don you looked good,but your canadian team is going down. the true alfie came out tonite shooting the puck at the duck player, almost as bad as hitting tallinder from behind. no penalty on both, but we cannot penalist a senator they do too much whinning. cup comes back to the united states where it belongs.

How can hard equipment be blamed on American influence? CCM's headquarters is in Montreal, Bauer was making hard plastic elbow and shoulder pads long before it was bought by Nike, and Easton hockey is a based in Quebec too. You can't blame everything on us just because Gary Bettman is from New York City. Come on, most of us don't like him either.

Pads are to protect the wearer, not to injure!Get rid of the hard plastic shoulder and elbow pads!

Don,
I'm an American and watched on NBC tonight and I hope they bring you back for more commentary. We need more hockey people like you broadcasting down here so people know what hockey is about. American fans want to see fights and hits along with pretty goals. The media here wants to sell a watered down fake version of the game and it won't work. Casual fans will watch to see a fight and if they see a good game too maybe they will stay tuned and ratings will increase. This fancy man game they want to shove down people's throats is only going to hurt the NHL and their ratings for a long time in the states. I know many fans here that can't stand it and I want you to know that not all Americans want the game changed for the worse, which is what we have now! Keep up the good work and I hope to see you more next season on US television broadcast.

I agree...Modern eqquipment contributes to injuries..Quit letting Americans influence our game!

Don commended Kent Huskins tonight and deservedly so. Don attributed his performance to Kent being Canadian and I am sure that helps, but Kent honed his hockey skill as a four year player at Clarkson University where he helped us win the 2001 ECAC championship. It should be also noted that Todd Marchant did his college hockey at Clarkson as well. Thus, all of us at Tech are routing for the Ducks

It continues to be inappropriate for Ron and Don to treat the military engagement in Afghanistan like a team sport. The most important thing Canadians can do to support our troops is to bring them home out of harm's way. The reasons given for the action are false and daily create a more dangerous situation for the Canadian troops and for Canadian citizens at home.

GO DUCKS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SENS DUCKIN SUCK

I lost all respect for Don Cherry Tonight. Don you look like a coward in the nbc broadcast. Not telling canada in the Canadian broadcast you are picking the ducks and telling American viewers with a kiss like pick you favor Anahiem. Don your a coward for not telling Canada were you stand in your pick for the cup winners.

Also you made hockey sound cheap comparing it to altimate fighting and other less complex sports. Were you trying to make hockey seem like it should start being promoted by the wwf promoters Hockey for those how play and have played it know under what conditions fights are going to happen.Americans from your NBC broadcast might now beleive hockey is not worth watching unless fights are staged. wake you or get your american citizenship.

International military engagement is not a game. Canadians should not be killing or dying in Afghanistan and Ron and Don should keep their comments on hockey, something which they understand.

I saw Don Cherry's comments during the second intermission regarding fighting in hockey. It has it's place. During the heat of competition, there are times when a fight is inevitable and fits into the game. There are times when a regular season game is slow and boaring and the coaches send out thier goons to liven things up. It is about like Championship wrestling. It seems scripted. It detracts from the game. Fights as part of a game are OK! Fights that detract from the game are not.

As I watch the hockey game I am compelled to remind Don Cherry that there are also many females in The Canadian Forces destined for Afghanistan. It's not just the guys over there, it's everyone. They are ALL fighting for a common goal !