Concussion panel recommends ban on hockey fights

[The Straight Story]

Concussion panel recommends ban on hockey fights


LONDON, Ont. — Fighting should be eliminated from hockey at all levels of the game, according to recommendations released Tuesday from an expert panel dealing with concussions in hockey.

"Fighting is one of the known causes of concussion, and may result in the related long-term complications," the panel's summary statement says. "Fighting can cause needless death."

The recommendations, resulting from meetings at the London Hockey Concussion Summit on Jan. 17-18, also calls from an elimination of high hits/head hits.

"Those are significant ones," Summit chair Dr. Paul Echlin said. "The reduction of hits from behind has had a major effect on the incidence of broken necks in hockey and similarly, the reduction of high/head hits should reduce the incidence of concussions."

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090210/hockey_fights_090210/20090210/?hub=TorontoNewHome

[madinmaryland]

1. Well, that's a no-brainer!

[Avalux]

2. Not going to happen.

Open ice hits are worse than fighting. Can't make the game sterile; all part of the risk of playing the game.

[Deep13]

3. So, they recommend a ban on hockey, essentially.

:hide:

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. I went to a fight once

and a hockey game broke out!

[smiley]

5. that is also something that puzzled me about hockey

I could never really grasp the fact that fighting was still allowed in hockey. Yeah, of course it puts people in the stands, but what kind of message does that send to the youth who grow up loving the sport.

[mmonk]

6. The overwhelming cause of concussions in hockey comes from

checks when the player getting checked has his head down.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. I really like hockey...

but I don't watch it except during the Olympics. :( Professional hockey is just too brutal for my taste, and takes away from the game itself.