The Mayo Clinic recently held a conference to discuss the
serious problem of concussions and other related hockey injuries. The major
finding of the clinic was that hockey is causing way too many brain injuries and
that, as a result, the sport needs to change. Scientists are suggesting changes
to the current body checking rules and to eliminate fighting among both
professional and non-professional hockey leagues.
The National Hockey League is on board with the changes,
citing that it wants children and all players to feel safe playing hockey and
that it doesn’t want parents to be afraid to sign their children up for the
sport. Taking the advice from the Mayo Clinic conference seriously, the NHL has
barred all targeted head contact and has new safety and monitoring procedures
in place for players who may have suffered concussions.
The NHL isn’t the only hockey organization willing to adapt
either. Both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada have outlawed any body checking among
players under the age of 13. While some feel that the organizations are
overreacting and enforcing “ridiculous” rules, anyone who has truly examined
the findings of the Mayo Clinic would understand why these new policies are
being implemented.
The Clinic found that repeated hits to the head, even minor
ones, among hockey players often lead to serious harm. Other findings included
that left or right hook hits were the most common causes of concussions. The
Clinic also feels strongly that brain damage is a possible outcome of repeated
hits and plans to research this theory further.
Based on their research, the Clinic is asking junior hockey
and NHL teams to punish fighters with immediate ejection from a game and
long-term suspension in some situations. It is still unknown how the NHL and
other hockey leagues will respond to these suggestions, but many are
speculating that hockey would be a whole lot safer for everyone if they did.
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