Behind the Mask

I played briefly on a varsity soccer team in Nova Scotia, in my case I was injured since day 2 of training camp. I sucked it up and was determined not to let this injury hold me back from my dream of playing at, for me, a high level.

I know my body and I knew something was wrong (so did the doctors). I decided to play anyway. Once my whole left leg (knee and hip) started to go I had to think about hanging up the cleats. I was compensating for my broken foot and the injuries were just piling up.

I quit once I was dead certain that my team was better off without me, and I am glad I gave it my best shot.

Myself, being a very small player, ran into my fair share of injuries in Junior (concussions, broken hands, wrist, shattered elbows, etc.) Although I was the smallest player on most of my teams, i was usually the leader. Personally I feel I was rewarded for the Heart I displayed off but mostly on the ice.
In order to play hockey, I basically had to play injured my entire life. I began to enjoy the physical aspect of the game, and only made me learn how to recieve and give checks better, and more routinly.
that being said, this is the reason why i had to hang up the skates at the age of 20.

Do i blame this on my coaches? gosh no. I blame it on myself. All i wanted to do was play hockey, injured or not. Believe it or not I tried harder when injured, and you hit the nail on the head when you say it's almost liek a badge of honor while playing with an injury.

All that being said, when I see someone like Crosby hop on the ice when he's not ready to return, I feel for them. I understand what they are feeling, their determination to help their team is very admirable, and exciteing.

And when I see someone like Mats Sundin, skateing flawlessly in practice, ditching his team he so proudly stood by during the deadline; now sitting on the sidelines? These are the most important games of the season. And if your Captain isnt able to play through just a little groin pain (ive had several groin injuries, they definatly are playable unless pulled or 1st degree strain)

I had stated above I blame myself. Yeah, but at the same time, I would rather say I put forth 115% effort injured or healthy, In my opinion, I get a hell a lot more self assurance knowing this. Play every game like it's your last, because you never know when your last will come, regardless of what the contract says.

Everyone out there bemoaning the poor,poor players for being so courageous and going through sheer Hell year after year as an elite athlete....who the hell FORCED them into it? This is THEIR choice...they could have become stockbrokers or burger flippers...give me a break.

I played high school football in the early '80's, and there is an image of that time that comes to mind when discussing sports injuries. We had a good team, but we were a little undersized and undermanned. We had a number of guys who playe on both sides of the ball. One guy played offensive tackle and linebacker. It is an image of this guy that comes to mind. By the end of the season, we had to help him off the field after games because his back hurt so badly he couldn't stand up straight. He suffered no single traumatic incident that I know of, but was worn down by repeated collisiosns. He should have been benched. He should have been rested, but he was a dominating player on the field. And he dominated by virtue of his heart; as I said earlier, we were an undersized team, and this guy fit that description. He was 18 years old then. I often wonder how he is now. And this wasn't pro, and the guy I'm talking about probably didn't have a shot because of his size, but he risked his future health for a few moments of high school glory. He was 18 and bulletproof, as we all were. The coaches should have known differently, and should have sat him down.

Regarding the comment that professional players are never pressured by team Doctors to play when injured, I recall reading a book sometime ago which detailed the serious problems a Vancouver player encountered when forced to play INJURED (the last name was Robitaille, could be Mike), This player was called a coward and everything else by the management and team doctors even though he had obvious very severe back injuries. This case went to court and both management and team doctors perjured themselves to escape liability for their COWARDLY and CRIMINAL behaviour.Read the story and judge for yourself.

Great wisdom and insight Kelly.

You are a very wise gentleman and thoughtful person and that makes you one of my heroes. The fact you played pro hockey has nothing to do with it.

I wrote to you several years back when you played goal with the Kings and you signed my cards and returned them promptly. Need I say more about your character to a little boy who idolized NHL'ers.

You and the pros are the elite in the minds and eyes of our youth. With these standards come excellent opportunities to share your experience, joy and wisdom to our FUTURE.

I think NHL'ers are the most giving and proffessional people out there. ( We cannot forget our proffessional women either as both my daughter and son continue to play.

I am fortunate to coach both Bantam and Midget have each of my own child on the team. I see my teams as an extended fasmily and instill life skills, respect and a PASSION for LEARNING.

You are correct in the fact there is a difference between being Hurt(Mentally where do you put that pain ?) and being injured where you risk further PHYSICAL damage .

The answer lies within the medical evidence and the individual. Time, rest or go.

The passion for the game is a reflection of life.

As as coach, player, father I can tell what a kid is like off the ice in life by how the play the game on the ice.

Cheers to you Kelly!

You guys are the Best !!!

Sincerely,

Jeff Reid

It is ironic that we equate performance at the highest levels of sport with fitness and health,but the long term consequence of elite sports is often a legacy of pain. I remember listening to a radio documentary about former pro football players. One guy in his 50s who had spent years in the trenches as a lineman in the NFL,told the interviewer it took him an hour just to get out of bed in the morning,he was just so crippled with arthritic joints.

Big difference between playing hurt and playing injured. A bruise from a slap shot or a fight is playing hurt while dislocated shoulder is playing injured like Bob Gainey did during the playoff against the NY Islanders. Players should not play if by playing will aggravate his injuries which is worse for the long term. Look at Sidney Crosby, he aggravated his injuries where after plaing three games, he return to the injury list. Now it will be worse if he comes back too early and missed the first round of playoff. Coach/Manager has not right to force a player returning playing if they are not fully recover ... it can ends their carreers where the Flyers have made an habit of doing so (Lindros).

Athletes in general should have the chance to heal because you can speak all you want about the big players and the money they make but there's all the professional and amateur leagues out there that also use the same credo. When you are looking at bright and up and coming athletes they all should be given the opportunity to heal.

Unfortunately this is not always the case and these people do not have the "compensation" of an amazing salary.

I know only too well the sentiments of your article Kelly. I was a wrestler on a varsity university team and competed at a number of international tournaments for Canada. At the age of 21 I herniated 3 disks in my lower back. Since then I have had 2 surgeries, have permanent back pain and nerve damage and according to my orthopedic surgeon I have the lower back worse than that of a 70 year old. And while the doctors all did their best and would never let me on the mat until I was in their opinion ready the couch was always professing a "suck it up" attitude.
Pressure from coaches is a huge issue when you as an athlete are facing the prospect of loosing your spot or somehow letting your team or coach down. Sometimes scholarships and bursaries are at stake, and the "unsaid" gestures and attitudes can come into play.
That being said, perhaps once one makes it to the professional venue such as yourself things change as they need you as a commodity in perfect shape in order for you to bring in the fans and the dollars, but for those trying to get there or fighting through the amateur field of any athletic endeavor the pressure to compete, "hurt" as you said does inevitably happen.

I often wonder what effect the scheduling and travelling have on the injury rate in hockey. Playing three or four games a week and often having to travel by air between each game (and we all know how tiring air travel can be for the ordinary traveller) must increase the likelihood of injury. The body needs a period of recuperation after a high level of physical activity especially in a sport where physical contact is part and parcel of the game. More realistic scheduling would help players (and fans!). A minimum one-day break between games should be mandatory. It seems to work in the play-offs.

I agree that hockey injuries, as most injuries in life, will come back to haunt you later in life.
There is a lot of pressure on players to'buck up' and get back out there as soon as possible. Hockey players do have a choice, I suppose ,but they must feel they are letting their team down. I say heal properly and get back when you are ready.Look at Bobby Orr , the best player, in my books and such a short career.I bet he played many in games in extreme pain.It is definitely a trade- off.

"Sports injuries can be brutal, and with the lasting effects, and we were reminded of that Wednesday evening." While this closing statement is true, professional athletes that ply theur trade at the highest levels know full well the risks. And while nobody deserves to be hurt or injured they choose to take them on for immense rewards - not the least of which is financial.

Very thoughtful column Kelly. As a youngster I had designs on a career in professional sport but in the end didn't have the passion for the ones I was best at. As an ardent recreational athlete for a quarter century I've dislocated both shoulders and suffered three separations. At fifty I sometimes have trouble getting the gate to the players bench open when it's my shift. I think what you say about the sacrifices that players make down the road has a resonance with a lot of us who only do it badly and only for the fun of it. Thanks.

Last year Sidney Crosby played with a broken foot. This year he returned way too early from a high ankle sprain. There is no doubt in my mind that the decision on both accounts, was his. There is no way the organization would risk their long-term investment in him by telling him to play over these injuries.

Maybe the team doctors need to stress to the players the long-term consequences for their playing careers of going back too soon. Telling them how it's going to effect their lives long-term would be useless. They don't think that far ahead.

As a kid, my dad played football. He had the opportunity to play at Notre Dame but he had dislocated his shoulder so many times and had it put back in on the sidelines so he could return to play, that his rotator cuff was destroyed. In 1946 Dr. Homer Stryker refused to operate on my dad's shoulder. Why? Because my dad had no intention of turning pro. Dr. Stryker was a very wise man. Now, at age 79, my father has had both hips replaced, had terrible arthritis in his right shoulder and hand as well as his back. Not that he wouldn't have had anyway, but there is no doubt in my mind his condition is much worse thanks to playing football and playing injured.

teri (retired rehab rn)

Lovely "piece" Kelly!

Yes - interchangeable.

Peace!

Kelly I must tell you that there are a lot of blue collar workers out here that are still getting hurt and killed. As well we get to be exposed to things like carcinogens. I think the long term effects of many physical jobs can be detrimental to one's health. The difference really is how much you make and what kind of health care you can afford throughout life.
So if you are asking me to feel sorry for a professional athlete because he/she has arthritis, with all due respect, not a chance.

I found your topic very interesting. I have a
child who is very talented at all sports and plays at the elite levels in what ever sport HE wants to play. Along time ago I talked to him about being hurt and being injured, I explained the difference to him. Hurt - knicked, banged up , stinger , but can still go. injured - can,t play needs to rest.
Only once did my son ever tell me about about a coach putting presure on him to play, my son explained being hurt and being injured
to the coach. He sat that week it was his call
,only the player knows his body. I have seen my son play hurt many times, I don,t like it
but he was not injured he was hurting
Cheers Kelly.

I was talking with the guys after Sat rec hockey when they got into the "I'd love to play hockey for a living...get paid big bucks...great life style...paid to do smething fun..." etc. Being a Massage Therapist I have worked on people who have been high level athletes and I've seen the price they've paid for what they do. I for one will never say "overpaid and spoiled" about hockey players because nobody can understand what they go through to keep playing and, especially (as Kelly said), after they stop playing. I don't think any sport, or any amount of money, is worth being crippled for the rest of your life! I'd rather nobody played hurt or injured, rec or pro.

that's why i respect so much today atheletes cause the play at a high level and they have to win almost every day by putting there body at risk

great post Kelly

go habs go