I’ve spent the last several months listening to hockey experts on just about every channel provide their opinion about why there are so many concussions and major injuries occurring in the National Hockey League and what could be done to “fix the problem”. The biggest problem facing hockey is not equipment, not officiating, not the size of the players, not the speed of the game. I firmly believe that the biggest problem in professional hockey is the “Code”.
The “Code” is much more than “unwritten rules” which are typically rooted in superstition or in showing respect for one’s opponent. The “Code” is much more than that and is rooted deeply in the dressing rooms and clubhouses of every team sport. It differs from sport to sport, but the bottom line is that every player knows it exists, every player respects it so that they do not appear like they are “…not being a team player”.
If a player from Team A gets injured as a result of a “dirty hit”, Team A will be crying bloody murder while players and coaches from Team B will be saying things like: “I did not have a good angle”, “it looked like the guy turned his back at the wrong time”, “I’m sure that he did not intend to hurt the guy”, “it’s all part of the game”. They say this in order to protect their offending teammate and to respect the “Code” which says you never call out a teammate publicly. The problem with this is that if the roles are reversed and it is a Team B player that gets injured, they are the ones crying bloody murder for an identical hit to the one they were defending when it was a teammate doing the hitting.
“Hockey insiders” (…most of them former NHL players themselves), will tell you that if a player has an issue with a dirty hit by a teammate, it should be handled internally. The problem is, NHL players these days are mini individual corporations, and they mostly don’t care what their teammates have to say in the room. Imagine if several of their teammates were to step in front of the media and say something to the effect of; “…it was a dirty hit, he let down the team, he made our organization look bad, it is something that we are trying to eliminate from the game so he should know better and we think he should be suspended.” If players were publicly held accountable for dirty hits by their teammates rather than defended by their teammates, it would begin a culture shift in the league that would eventually force players to be more careful with their on-ice actions at the risk of being alienated by their team. The time has come for NHL players to stop defending hits by teammates that they would find unacceptable if delivered by an opponent. It is also time for team management and the members of the hockey media (specifically former players and coaches) to be supportive when players call out teammates for dangerous play. Alas, I do not see it happen any time soon, the “Code” remains strong!
Random Thoughts:
· It might be a sign of me getting older, but I always find it interesting when I hear a song that brings me back to a specific time and place in my life. The memories always seem so vivid and the song brings me right back to that moment in time. These are the songs that are soundtrack to my life to date.
· I was really proud of the Canadian team at the recently completed World Junior Hockey Championships. I was proud for two reasons. First, I am proud of how most of them did not give up when they fell behind 6-1 to the Russians in the semi-finals. Their comeback made the last 10 minutes of the game some of the most exciting hockey I’ve seen in a while. Second. I am proud of how they came out and played hard during their Bronze medal game. In Canadian hockey, the only medal that matters is Gold and our teams have a history of having difficulty in bronze medal games. For our team to play so well in beating Finland for the Bronze was good to see.
· This week, I experienced how the Internet and all the information in contains can spook you in ways that would have never been possible as recently as 15 years ago. I was not feeling well mid-week and had a couple of symptoms that I was not used to experiencing. So, of course, I “Googled” my symptoms and within minutes, I was almost convinced that I was on the verge of death. Obviously, having so much information, especially if it is from reliable sources, can be extremely helpful whether it is for heath related matters or other issues. However, that same information certainly makes it possible for individuals to “over-analyze”.
· I saw an interview with Christy Turlington earlier this week. For those that do not know her, Christy Turlington was one of the biggest supermodels back in the mid-eighties thru the mid-nineties. Let’s just say that she makes 42 years old look a lot better than I do. I bring her up because I was so impressed about the work she is currently doing for “Every Mother Counts”, an organization focused on maternal health. Listen, maternal health is not an issue that is close to my heart but it was refreshing to see a celebrity that not only supports a cause but is so active in the organization’s work, research and efforts. It seems to be a growing trend amongst celebrities and one that I hope continues. Charitable causes need to be more than a photo-op or a trip to a stricken area that will provide good video clips making a celebrity look like a difference maker.
· Elvis Stojko, former world champion figure skater, was in Timmins for a show on New Year’s Day. At one point I wondered how often in his life, as he is leaving an event, he has mumbled to himself: “Elvis has left the building”. Come on, you know he’s had to have done it at least once!
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