Time for action
Hall-of-Fame goaltender Ken Dryden visits Charlottetown to discuss concussions in hockey
Nathan Molyneaux has had 12 concussions playing the game he loves.
At least, those are the ones he knows about.
A doctor told him to stop playing contact hockey.
“If I didn’t have so many hits to the head, I’d be able to enjoy it a lot more,” said Molyneaux, 19.
He started playing hockey when he was six and came up through the Sherwood Parkdale Falcons organization.
He’s still playing, but now only in a recreational league.
Molyneaux was one of the panelists at a discussion Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown about how to prevent children from being exposed to unnecessary risk of injury in sport.
Ken Dryden knows about concussions. The NHL Hall of Fame inductee and former Montreal Canadiens goaltender has been touring with his latest book, “Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador and the Future of Hockey.”
The book chronicles the life of former player Steve Montador and examines how brain injuries like concussions may have contributed to his tragic death.
In a speech to a group of about 150 people Saturday, Dryden said he didn’t write the book to raise awareness, but rather to have the NHL take the knowledge and make real decisions to prevent more
concussions in the game.
“We all like to think there’s a direct line from awareness to action,” said Dryden.
“It often doesn’t turn out that way. It mystifies us as citizens, it mystifies the scientists who do the work and make it known and it mystifies the media who draw attention to certain things.”
Dryden is challenging NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to make any hit to the head, accidental or not, illegal.
“All we can do is use the best information available at any time,” he said. “
Tomorrow there may be better information. We change as we learn more. It doesn’t mean we don’t do what we know at this moment. Science takes time and games are played tomorrow.
“Living with a wonky knee is one thing, living with a wonky brain is another.”
Bill Montelpare, a professor of applied human sciences at UPEI, said concussions are sometimes misunderstood.
“Just because you didn’t wobble during a game doesn’t mean you didn’t get a concussion,” said Montelpare following
Dryden’s presentation.
“You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion, but if you do, get checked out right away.”
Damage from hits to the head creates scar tissue and obstructs normal brain function. There is no single test that can determine whether a player is well enough to get back into the game.
If players come back too early, they are at risk for a second injury, said Montelpare.
John Morrison, director of sport and recreation for the province, said governments
can’t do much to legislate against concussions beyond ensuring playing environments are safe.
“We recognize concussions are a public health issue,” Morrison during the panel discussion.
Dryden is firm that concussions in hockey are preventable, and said the league’s inaction is inexcusable.
“There are no excuses, “he said.
“It’s not fair, not right and not necessary. We have it in our hands to significantly reduce concussions in hockey.”