Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 28 May 2019

Concussions cine evolve, we continue

to evolve what we’re do-
Continued from Page 17 thing else with technol- ing together.”
ogy and helmets that you San Jose’s Brenden Dillon
The NHL formed a concus- could necessarily do as of has noticed significant im-
sion study group in 1997, right now that we don’t provement since he en-
cracked down on certain know of yet.” tered the league in 2012.
hits after the 2004-05 lock- Hall of Famer Eric Lindros “Not just the health people
out, instituted a formal pro- said he believes concus- but the coaching staff, the
tocol and a rule against sions in hockey are inevita- trainers, the strength and
head contact in 2010, and ble because of the speed conditioning coaches,
added spotters in 2015. and physical nature of the they’re all pretty aware of
While plenty of debate sim- sport. things in regards to con-
mers among former players NHL Alumni Association cussions and they’re pretty
about how much informa- executive director Glenn good about taking their
tion they were given about Healy said it is impossible to time and making sure guys
the risks of repeated hits to eliminate them. are healthy before they
the head, many of those The league and players come back,” Dillon said.
currently in the league be- instead have worked re- In this May 26, 2000, file photo, Philadelphia Flyers Eric Lindros, “This is a game we play, a
third from right, is assisted after getting hit in the first period of
lieve they are adequately cently toward a balance Game 7 of their NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals against life we’ve chosen but at
informed. of prohibiting certain types the New Jersey Devils in Philadelphia. Lindros could easily be the same time we want to
“The knowledge that we of hits with in-game pen- the poster boy for concussions in the NHL given his experience. have a life after.”
get is about as much as alties and suspensions to Associated Press Several players praised
they can send out to us curb the kind of behavior play through a head injury. the Players’ Association the addition of concussion
and make us go through at that used to be common- The league has been to focus on player health spotters who can request
the beginning of the year, place. NHL Commissioner steadfast in denying a and safety and to make players be pulled from a
learning and being aware Gary Bettman said the ef- connection between re- sure that we’re making a game in progress. It has
of it,” said Boston Bruins de- fort began with former vice peated hits to the head game that’s played at high caused plenty of conster-
fenseman Brandon Carlo, president of player safety and degenerative brain speeds in an enclosed en- nation from competitive
who will play in the Stanley Brendan Shanahan and injuries but has nonetheless vironment and is a collision athletes who think they’re
Cup Final beginning Mon- the cultural change of let- pushed changes to better sport, to make it as safe as good to go, but, like seat-
day. “They do a good job ting up on dangerous hits protect players. possible,” Bettman said. belt and motorcycle hel-
on the awareness aspect. and shedding the mental- “This has been a collabo- “As the technology and met laws, it serves to protect
I don’t know if there’s any- ity that anyone should just ration of the league and the science and the medi- players from themselves.q