This may sound like an exaggeration, but Montreal Canadiens’ D Josh Gorges is lucky to be alive this morning. During the first period of Wednesday night’s contest at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Gorges was struck at short range in the head by a slapshot from Capitals’ D Mike Green.
Approached by reporters after the game, Green referred to the incident by saying, “That was scary,” while newly-appointed Habs’ GM Pierre Gauthier commented how “(Gorges) was very lucky.”
Thankfully, Gorges – who laid motionless on the ice for several tense moments after being hit – was able to skate off under his own power and was back on the ice at practice Thursday with his teammates.
However, the serious nature of this incident shouldn’t be swept under the rug by the NHL because Gorges didn’t suffer a traumatic head injury, or even worse – death – from the direct impact of a puck from close range to the head. The next player might not be so lucky.
Lest we forget Brittanie Cecil, the 13-year old fan who was struck and ultimately killed by a deflected puck at a Blue Jackets’ game eight years ago. The precedent is there. If it can happen to a fan, it can happen to a player. If the NHL continues to turn a blind-eye to episodes like last night’s, it’s only a matter of time before it does. Green, nor any other hockey player for that matter, deserves to have that kind of blood on his/her hands from such a preventable tragedy.
Cecil’s death sparked immediate change in NHL arenas, where protective mesh at both ends of the ice stands as both a painful reminder and a fixture in hockey rinks worldwide today. But should we now be forced to wait for another unnecessary death – on the ice – to occur before changes are made to the headgear being worn by NHLers today?
Let’s face facts – studies have proven that the nature of the sport in today’s day and age DEMANDS greater head protection for its players. The majority of head injuries suffered in hockey – concussions, broken facial bones, eye injuries, cuts and even lost teeth – are entirely preventable with better designed helmets. Think football-style helmets with full visors, complete with team logos on the side. Serious protection for a serious, hard-hitting game.
While the NHL ponders a solution, they need to act now as the leader for implementing new technology into the sport. But they WON’T for one simple reason – proper head protection would spell the end for fighting in the game.
If a proper helmet was used, complete with facial protection – one that was designed to stay on the players’ head at all times – the league could no longer justify the impromptu and barbaric nature of fighting in the game. This is the inherent flaw that exists in the professional game today – one that continues to jeopardize the safety of every player who steps on the ice.
Both sadly and ironically, the on-ice death of Don Sanderson one year ago did little to impose the necessary changes required. Sanderson eventually succumbed to injuries suffered when his head struck the ice after his helmet came off during a fight. The ensuing discussion afterwards raged between two arguments – was better head protection needed or did hockey need to eliminate fighting altogether?
The answer is obvious. The time is now for the NHL and the rest of hockey to put the safety of their players first.
I have to agree with you, the NHL has to act quick, sooner rather than later to prevent something more serious from happening to another player who might not be as lucky as Josh Gorges.
There are two big problems in todays fast paced game, head injuries and skates. Reality is that without a full facial protection, players are at the mercy of flying pucks and skate blades. Just ask Pat DaPuzzo, he was a lineman and he got disfigured by a skate, Clint Malerchuck and Richard Zednik.
The technology exists to really protect these guys. Better the NHL act before one of the rinks turns into a tragic scene.
Rooco
I agree in concept but I’m not sure I would hold the NFL up as the flag bearer for protecting their players. Will we start seeing guys just charge each other head first with no fear knowing (or thinking) these helmets are protecting them. The average NFL’er has a 5 year career and dies 20 years younger than the national average. By those standards I think the NHL is doing a decent job. NFL’ers also don’t have sticks. What happens when the sticks start flying because of the feeling of safety from these super helmets? Should we wrap all the players necks in body armour too because Zednik got his throat cut. At some point all the players have agreed to an unwritten code and they should be policing themselves. I would argue there were less injuries when there were no helmets.
The speed and intensity of the games now with the money at the level it is has changed the game though….I will grant you that.
Merely assess a new two-minute minor penalty for spearing — with the head!
and what would be the referee signal for that penalty? ha ha
There is a ton of new innovations regarding state of the art equipment for atheltes in all sports, including the NHL. What good are they when nobody wants to wear them? For some reason the NHL and it’s players hate “change.” It’s probably the same reason the sport cannot get a USA TV contract – we’ll discuss this in another blog
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Neck guards have been around for years. If Zednick was wearing one, he wouldn’t have gotten injured. Short track speed skaters wear them.
Here’s another problem with the NHL. The game today is being played by well conditioned “giants,” playing at speeds unprecedented in yester-years game. Take a look at the NYI teams of the 1980s. Bossy, Trotier and Potvin, those guys look like they are standing still compared to today’s action. Take a look at Goring & Nystrom…they are half the size of today’s players.
Here’s a pet peeve…what’s up with the NHL not changing the Icing Rule to the “No Touch Rule?”
Should the NHL eradicate fighting?
What a stupid sport
I think we know why the NHL won’t remove fighting. They perceive, whether right or wrong, that they will lose a significant number of “part time” fans in the United States.