QMJHL improves player safety protocols
Jordan Boyd might have been looking forward this week to his Christmas break from playing hockey.
Instead, a news conference was held Tuesday in Halifax on the subject of his death.
Boyd, of Bedford, was 16 when he collapsed on the ice at the Acadie Bathurst Titan training camp in August 2013 and died of cardiac arrest.
For his parents, life hasn’t improved much since that day.
“Not a lot, to be quite honest with you; it’s a very difficult thing to lose a child,” said Stephen Boyd, Jordan’s father. “Any parent that’s lost a child can understand the pain that goes with that. Jordan was just a great young man and we struggle every day.
“We still have his room at home that has all his trophies, and all his paraphernalia from playing hockey from the time he was three years old. We’ve got scrapbooks galore – some that his friends made – and we keep pictures of Jordan around the house, we talk about Jordan every day, and we keep in touch with Jordan’s friends on a regular basis. He’s not with us anymore but he’s with us, if you know what I mean.”
On Tuesday, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau announced “significant” changes to the league’s safety protocol in the wake of Boyd’s death.
Each team must have at least three staff members trained in CPR and life-saving techniques, including the use of an automatic external defibrillator. Two of these trained staff members are to be present at all team events, including games, practices and tryouts.
Each team is to own a defibrillator, not just have access to one, and it’s to be in the possession of a trainer or athletic therapist at all team events.
Teams have to report every year the names of the people trained and provide confirmation to the league of their certification and annual refresher training. And the league’s physical exam at the precamp stage has been improved, to include a more thorough health questionnaire and physical examination of the player.
The changes took effect at the beginning of this season.
“The league has learned from this tragedy and is committed to learning from how this matter was handled,” Courteau said. “At the time of the event, the league communicated information which, afterwards, turned out to be lacking in accuracy. The league would like to officially and sincerely apologize to Jordan’s family and friends for the hurt this caused.”
Reporters asked Courteau to clarify that statement, but he refused.
“At this point, I don’t want to be specific on what exactly was right or not right following some of the announcements that we’ve made, but I just want to say today that after reviewing the process that has been in place, the Boyd family deserves apologies from me as the league commissioner,” he said.
The league will also make a contribution of $50,000 to the Jordan Boyd Foundation, which strives to raise awareness about inherited heart disease in young people, especially athletes.
Stephen Boyd said his family is trying to create some positive change by taking part in consultations, and does not interpret the donation as an attempt to stave off a lawsuit.