Nobody ever claimed minor hockey was for the meek, but is it intended to cause long-term damage?
Of course that's not the intent of hockey. But until the sport gets control of the game, there will be more and more reports like this one by Terry Davidson in the Toronto Sun about brutal hitting (both legal and illegal) causing injuries with life-long ramifications such as concussions.
Whether it's the fault of the amour-like equipment, a size differential of players, too much sugar, odd coaching or under-skilled referees ... I don't know. But there's an increasing buzz about serious injuries in minor hockey.
As one tiny example, I have never seen so many players miss games due to injuries as I did this past season with my son's midget team. Concussions. Broken bones - arm, collar, hand. Broken molar. We even had a goaltender go back into a playoff game after suffering a significant cut. A backup goalie wasn't dressed because he was out with a concussion.
No one signs his kid up for athletics to get hurt. If the reputation of the sport becomes a "hurt factory", parents will keep their credit cards in their wallets and sign up little Johnny for guitar lessons instead.
Of course that's not the intent of hockey. But until the sport gets control of the game, there will be more and more reports like this one by Terry Davidson in the Toronto Sun about brutal hitting (both legal and illegal) causing injuries with life-long ramifications such as concussions.
Whether it's the fault of the amour-like equipment, a size differential of players, too much sugar, odd coaching or under-skilled referees ... I don't know. But there's an increasing buzz about serious injuries in minor hockey.
As one tiny example, I have never seen so many players miss games due to injuries as I did this past season with my son's midget team. Concussions. Broken bones - arm, collar, hand. Broken molar. We even had a goaltender go back into a playoff game after suffering a significant cut. A backup goalie wasn't dressed because he was out with a concussion.
No one signs his kid up for athletics to get hurt. If the reputation of the sport becomes a "hurt factory", parents will keep their credit cards in their wallets and sign up little Johnny for guitar lessons instead.
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