Kukla's Korner Hockey
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 12/29/11 at 12:26 PM ET
Comments (7)
“We play this great game [in which] I get into a car wreck six times a night, 82 times a year, plus playoffs, now in my 13th season at the professional level. The rest of my teammates do, too. How many people get into a car wreck in their [entire] life? Hopefully never, but maybe once in their life?”
“[Hitting is] part of the game. We accept that, we know it can happen. It’s a physical game. We go out and play the sport knowing that, and that’s what makes it great, fast, [and] exciting. I’d just like to see us take away all the things that are in our control to not have my peers susceptible to [concussions].”
-Willie Mitchell of the Los Angeles Kings. More from Mitchell on concussions from Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty.
thanks to a KK reader for the pointer
Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Willie+Mitchell,
Comments
IMO, he’s saying that some players need to remove the HARD ELBOW and SHOULDER PADS.
Players using them as weapons is where the concussions are coming from.
The NHL needs to establish a standard for pads. When was the last time a player got a separated shoulder? 15 years ago it happened 2 or 3 times per season. Now I haven’t heard of a hockey player with a shoulder injury in a VERY long time. What does that tell you?
Posted by BobaFett from Las Vegas on 12/29/11 at 02:31 PM ET
Wow, really really well said by Mitchell. Hopefully his peers will listen to him and he can be a leader in the NHLPA rank and file, especially when it comes to player safety.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 12/29/11 at 02:47 PM ET
Lucid, compelling, persuasive. Well done, Willie.
Agree that I hope the league is listening.
Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 12/29/11 at 03:50 PM ET
glad to see them putting the focus where it should be, hope more people start listening.
Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 12/29/11 at 04:53 PM ET
Now I haven’t heard of a hockey player with a shoulder injury in a VERY long time. What does that tell you?
Posted by BobaFett from Las Vegas on 12/29/11 at 01:31 PM ET
I believe they call them “Upper Body Injuries” these days.
Posted by RyanVM on 12/29/11 at 05:13 PM ET
I thought “Upper Body Injury” meant concussion???
Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 12/29/11 at 07:07 PM ET
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Well put.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 12/29/11 at 01:55 PM ET