One or two comments by NHL players concerning neck guards I read today claim that they are uncomfortable and cause the player to sweat. Something made of a Kevlar mesh (used for tire cords and bulletproof vests) should be light enough in weight and provide enough porosity to allow air circulation.
dyams: I have respect for the ones who utilize the safety equipment that's available, though, even though it means risking their tough-guy reputation. I think it's premature to assume that the "tough-guy reputation" is the reason why NHL players don't wear neck guards. When athletes don't use an optional piece of protective equipment, in my experience, it's because they feel the benefit is mixed or nonexistent or comes with an added disadvantage, such as discomfort, lack of function, impaired vision, etc. As others have mentioned, Zednik's body will heal, but the mental repercussions of what happened may impact his play more than anyone can imagine. Actually, Zednik seems to be better mentally and is already asking when he can return to training -- what I would say is still somewhat in doubt is that his "body will heal". He's in intensive care, in stable condition, which is a long way from okay. When doctors sound happy and optimistic in these situations, it means that the patient is doing as well as they could have expected at this point, given the gravity of the injury. It does not mean that they "will heal".
I think it's premature to assume that the "tough-guy reputation" is the reason why NHL players don't wear neck guards. It's not premature to think that way, LBB. The "tough guy" mentality is alive and well on a hockey rink and has been for a long time. (Helmets were not always mandatory, not even for goalies.) There are many amateur mens league players that choose not to wear certain pieces of equipment. I have played with many that don't wear shoulder pads, leaving only elbow/hand protection on the upper torso. (I guess with the idea that they are too "tough" to get hurt.) Once out of college, players can remove the facial cage attached to helmets. In fact, Jacques Plante, player and inventor of the first goalie mask once said (and I loosely quote) " Wearing the new mask has allowed me to play a more aggressive style of goaltending." Yes, you're right to assume that there could be an added disadvantage to the donning of said equipment (due to comfort), but obviously, there is also a substantial disadvantsge to not having proper protection when an injury occurs. It seems like it's a "roll of the dice". I'll err on the side of safety. You are a skiing fan, right? If a downhill skier decided to remove his helmet because of a comfort issue, we'd call him crazy. Sure, he might be so good that he won't take a tumble down the mountain, but the safety measures are there just in case it does happen. I'd rather see players safe and alive, than tough and injured (or dead).
Yes, you're right to assume that there could be an added disadvantage to the donning of said equipment (due to comfort), but obviously, there is also a substantial disadvantsge to not having proper protection when an injury occurs. You also have to look at the effect of the equipment on how people act. For years cars have gotten safer, but highway fatalities per mile driven have stayed fairly static (though fatalities per accident have dropped a great deal). Economists suggest this is due to people feeling safer with seat belts, airbags, anti-locks and thus driving more recklessly.
You also have to look at the effect of the equipment on how people act. True enough. That's the very mindset Jacques Plante had. But the NHL's individual franchises are paying these players hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to perform for thier team for an extended period of time. Wouldn't it be wise to do everything you can to insure the safety and longevity of your investment? So, the player ends up with a little extra neck sweat, big deal. The NHL wants to clean up the game with rule changes and longer suspensions/fines in order to send a message to the players, all with the intention of preventing injury. (all of which I'm in favor of) However, I have seen very little change take place to help prevent injury during legal play. All in all, this was a freak thing. Jokinen was up-ended, causing his skate to be at head-level off the ice. I don't think this will happen frequently or, in the eyes of the NHL, become a common problem. It happened and it's unfortunate that the players and fans had to witness such a horrific thing.
For years cars have gotten safer, but highway fatalities per mile driven have stayed fairly static In the example of automobiles and fatalities, what most come down to is someone not choosing to snap on a seatbelt which would keep them from being ejected from the vehicle (which is the main reason most people are killed in accidents where they could have likely survived). Race driver Dale Earnhardt felt he didn't need the HANS device in his car which other drivers were using, and that wound up costing him him life. NASCAR, in my mind, is a good example. Fatalities as compared to the number of races without deaths are very infrequent, but when something serious happens, certain devices are made mandatory. And lbb, I'm glad Zednik is anxious to get back on the ice, but the only true test of his mental state and ability to deal with this incident is how he acts when he resumes game action.
BoKnows: You are a skiing fan, right? If a downhill skier decided to remove his helmet because of a comfort issue, we'd call him crazy. Sure, he might be so good that he won't take a tumble down the mountain, but the safety measures are there just in case it does happen. But in ski racing, it does happen, all the time, to everybody -- unlike hockey skates to the neck. Ski racers take falls all the time, in racing and in practice, whose consequences are greatly mitigated by the wearing of a helmet. It's really not a "just in case" thing. To give an example, in a downhill last month in Kitzbuhel (not the Hahnenkamm), six out of sixty racers crashed and did not finish. Here's a pretty gnarly vid of one of them, Scott Macartney of the US ski team (don't watch if you're squeamish...really). His helmet stayed on for two smashes, which is no doubt why Scotty Mac didn't get a skull fracture and lived to tell the tale, but he's got a bad enough brain bruise even with the helmet that he's probably done for the year.
Lbb, Thanks for the example, and I see your point regarding the frequency of skiing incidents vs. the infrequency of a hockey skate slash to the neck. What I would hate to see is a sport riddled with injury and nothing being done about it. I'm not sure what it takes to require an increased level of safety equipment, but I sure hope it doesn't involve another incident like this one.
what most come down to is someone not choosing to snap on a seatbelt which would keep them from being ejected from the vehicle (which is the main reason most people are killed in accidents where they could have likely survived) That's oddly phrased, but doesn't invalidate my point: people are more likely to choose not to put on a seatbelt because they think the car's safer. Also, it looks like "main reason" is only true when it comes to passengers. It's about 50/50 for drivers. That FARS site appears to be my tax dollar at work and I have to say I'm pleased with it.
One Christmas my aunt gave us all these weird-ass hammers built specifically for breaking out of your own car after a crash You should hang on to them. If your car does go into the water, it may be the only way to get out in time. They had an episode of MythBusters and those "weird-ass hammers" were the only quick way the driver was able to get out of the car before it filled up with water. I'm not sure what it takes to require an increased level of safety equipment, but I sure hope it doesn't involve another incident like this one. It takes more than a fluke injury to get people to mandate safety equipment (or changes). The fact that the player had to be basically standing on his head in order to swipe his skate across the other player's neck seems to indicate this isn't going to be an even-uncommon occurrence. That said, if they could come up with some semi-sturdy (but bendable) collar for the jerseys, I think most players wouldn't have a problem with them.
By that logic though, no one would ever fly because the odd plane does crash The analogy of not flying because of the odd aircraft accident doesn't really hold up. Nearly every aircraft accident has, after thorough investigation into the probable cause, resulted in some improvement to aviation safety. It might be better equipment, better procedures, or better training, frequently adopted over strident objections from the airlines, but the industry learns through its errors. I should think that the NHL could do the same thing, despite the complaints of the players.
But Howard, if you're going to go the "we can always learn from an accident" route, you have to be willing to accept whatever you do learn -- even if that's not, "...and here's a clever technique/gadget/procedure we can use to gain an increase in safety."
I think you might be surprised how much resistance you'd get from the players on wearing neck guards. Some years ago I read a great first-hand account of the first training camp and season for a DE in the NFL (sorry, source forgotten). One of the themes was how quickly players tried whatever they could to get an advantage, including dumping every piece of protective gear they could get away with. WRs cutting down their shoulder pads to reduce weight, not wearing a cup unless you were on special teams, anything they could think up. Pro athletes are extremely competitive, they know they only have a small window to play and they have trouble accepting that anything could hurt them; unless they literally didn't even notice they were wearing a neck guard a lot of players would ditch it at the first opportunity.
They had an episode of MythBusters and those "weird-ass hammers" were the only quick way the driver was able to get out of the car before it filled up with water. I appreciate why the hammer is shaped the way it is* and the effects of water pressure. My wife and I disposed of our hammers humanely years ago with the tacit agreement that if either of us ever died because we couldn't get out of a car, some acknowledgment of my aunt's wisdom would be placed on the tombstone. Of course, I never wore a cup in a dozen years of athletics, including 5 years of lacrosse. And that was after seeing a rather awful groin-lacrosse ball collision in my first season, so YMMV. *People have been breaking car windows with spark plugs long before anyone ever thought to turn the technique into a tool.
Ah, so that's why they call you "Kiri Te Kanawa Jr." down at the karaoke bar. (too obscure?)
So if you mandate that hockey players should wear neck protection because of two freak incidents in over twenty years, does that mean that javelin judges should wear steel toed boots all the time?
does that mean that javelin judges should wear steel toed boots all the time? If her toes are located at that part of her foot and would be protected by steel-toed boots, then I say why not?
The_Black_Hand It's not in this clip, but a classy move by Buffalo fans, who gave Zednik a standing ovation when it was announced that he was in stable condition and being transported to a local hospital.
FYI,
here's the video of the fan's standing ovation after the announcement.
If Kiri Te Kanawa is too obscure, I don't wanna be right.
Ah, so that's why they call you "Kiri Te Kanawa Jr." down at the karaoke bar. Alessandro Moreschi would be more appropriate.
It takes more than a fluke injury to get people to mandate safety equipment (or changes). The fact that the player had to be basically standing on his head in order to swipe his skate across the other player's neck seems to indicate this isn't going to be an even-uncommon occurrence. I agree that the chance of this exact scenario occuring again is probably nil. In the Malarchuk incident, it was due to players crashing the net, which happens all the time. But we are not talking about a multi-million dollar equipment overhaul. We are talking about what, $12-$15 per player. I understand that one or two incidents do not indicate a trend, but with such an inexpensive safety precaution option available, it is not necessary to wait for it to happen again. Or how about this novel idea, I think I read it above in some earlier posts. Wear a friggin' turtleneck!! The chance of a skate blade sustaining pressure enough to cut through a layer or two of fabric, and then cut the skin is not likely.
Two skates to the head in one week. Earlier this week, linesmen Pat Dapozzo got caught up in a pile and got kicked in the face breaking his nose and requiring 20 stitches. As if that wasn't bad enough, a fight broke out after that and DaPozzo tried to get in and break it up with his nose splattered. Looks like both those guys picked a bad week to quit sniffing glue.
BoKnows, I like your comment about wearing a turtle neck. Let's bring the Phil Esposito look back!
This happened three times in twenty years that i can remember. It also happened back in 2006 to Rene Bourque of the Blackhawks. Here's a video
