Week 6 - Protecting NHL Players

Article 6

In class, we discussed the consequences of professional leagues rules for hard hits and things of that nature.  In my KIN 140 class we also discussed the consequences of concussions and how many NHL and NFL players are severely brain damaged because of direct hits.  This article from ESPNw discusses how the NHL should better protect its players from head injury and brain damage.  In 1968, pro hockey player Bill Masterson was killed by a check, and it took the NHL 11 years to require helmets to be worn on the ice.  This year alone, 98 players were confirmed with concussions, and that doesn't count all the head injuries that went undiagnosed.  I just hope that it doesn't take another death for the NHL to see that they should ban head shots altogether. 
In class, we discussed things like violence in sports and deviance.  In sports like hockey it seems as if head shots and hard checks are just a part of the game, but in reality, they are serious infractions, and can get an athlete into a lot of trouble.  Sometimes coaches and owners turn a blind eye to such deviant behavior because it is what makes the fans happy, but that really needs to stop. Even when a player is required to wear helmets and excessive padding, they are still at risk of serious injury, which should