Controversy Brews in Minor Hockey League Associations: Over Approach to Concussions

Across Canada, numerous minor hockey league associations have decided to start implement mandatory testing after a player is struck in the head, to test for concussion like symptoms. These tests will simply check memory and attention span of players over a 10-25 minute period. However, medical experts and parents remain skeptical about the approach and tactics used by team trainers and the organizations. Due to the fact that, if a child is allowed to return to the ice pre-maturely the consequences could be devastating for the child at risk as well as the trainer/organization. In addition, parents also feel their child could be subject to return to the game early because of his/her importance to the team.

Christopher Randolph, a clinical professor of neurology at the Loyola University Medical Center made a statement on the testing methods “teens may sandbag their baseline test so that if they get hurt and have to take another test before being cleared to play, the odds of passing will be higher.” Lastly, all serious injuries require medical attention with the proper trained people, equipment, facilities and technology. A perfect example is Sidney Crosby’s recent neck injury diagnoses, at first the team suspected he was suffering from another concussion but upon further investigation by the medical staff, Crosby has in fact suffered fractures to his C1 and C2 vertebrae. These important findings could be the difference in a child’s future in hockey and the risk-reward factor of a base-line test given by a team trainer is not worth the risk! In conclusion, team trainers are a critical component of any hockey team, but there expertise is not in diagnosing concussions or playing team doctor.