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Report: NHL rule changes haven’t decreased concussion rates

Max Pacioretty

In this photo taken, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, Montreal Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty is wheeled away on a stretcher after taking a hit from Boston Bruins’ Zdeno Chara during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal. Pacioretty has been diagnosed with a severe concussion and a fractured vertebra. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)

AP

Three years ago, the NHL tightened its rules on hits to the head in an effort to curb injuries and concussions.

According to a new study, it’s not working.

Conducted by neurosurgeon and concussion researcher Dr. Michael Cusimano of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, the study compared concussion rates before and after the NHL introduced rules against hits to the head in 2010.

“The rate of concussion did not decrease,” Cusimano said in an interview, as per CBC. “It in fact increased the first year and in the second year in the NHL it stayed stable.

“So we didn’t see a decline like I think everyone had hoped, including the NHL, who said brought in primarily for player safety.”

The amendment to rule 48 -- illegal checks to the head -- was introduced two years ago, at the start of the 2010-11 campaign..

From NHL.com:

Illegal checks to the head, defined as “a lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principle point of contact is not permitted,” will now be subject to a five-minute major penalty and automatic game misconduct, as well as possible supplemental discipline if deemed appropriate by the League.

While the aim is to prevent severe injuries, like the concussions suffered last season by players such as Florida’s David Booth and Boston’s Marc Savard, hockey remains a contact sport and [Director of Officiating Terry] Gregson made clear that just because there is contact to the head, it doesn’t automatically make for an illegal hit.

Cusimano suggests the rule isn’t working is because of how it was originally worded -- and how it’s been called.

“Part of it’s the way the rule’s written. Part of it’s the way the rule is enforced. Part of it’s the penalties associated with the rule,” he explained. “And part of it is that concussions are also coming from other causes like fighting, that is still allowed.”

Another issue, it seems, is the sheer physicality of the sport.

Cusimano and his researchers said 64 per cent of NHL concussions were caused by bodychecking, while 28 per cent of concussions -- and 28 per cent of suspected concussions -- were caused by illegal incidents that resulted in a penalty, fine or suspension.

As for solutions, Cusimano came up with four suggestions: banning fighting, stiffer penalties for teams/players that cause concussions, changing equipment regulations and looking at different ice sizes and dimensions.