Zednik

[hiptzech]

Zednik laid open by skate blade…Not too graphic, however I understand there are more graphic images on the web…Parents take a serious look at neck protection even if your district, or coach do not require it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/vid ... Id=2378529

[Lily Braden]

thank you for posting this. I have a mite who does everything in her power to "lose" her neck guard. I think if we tell her about this, she might suddenly "find" the guard (which I happen to know is stuffed under her bed, because moms know everything)

[Marty McSorely]

It's a freak accident, we'd be better off spending our money training officials and coaches on Hockey First Aid.

[hiptzech]

It's a freak accident, we'd be better off spending our money training officials and coaches on Hockey First Aid.

Marty,

Where you the other guy in the car?

http://wcco.com/crime/gopher.hockey.pla ... 38730.html

[Air Force 1]

I haven't watched the video, the firewall here at work blocks that kind of stuff, but I don't know why anybody would be against neck guards, they should be just as mandatory as helmets and gloves. Freak accident, I bet you have insurance on your car and home for that "freak accident", life insurance, health insurance? The kids wear helmets, heck, coaches wear helmets now! Freak accidents happen, I would rather pay the $10-$15 dollars for the ounce of protection than the infinite dollars for the pound of cure.

We had the misfortune of one of our Pee Wee defenseman catch a skate in the neck in early December, he is fine now, no damage other than a scar, but the pictures are scary and when you start to think "what could have been" are it's terrifying. Immediately most of the team began wearing neck guards and the players said it only took a couple practices to get used to them. I got one for my Squirt and he doesn't mind it at all.

Expense? I don't consider it an expense anymore than the rest of his gear. I paid $14 for an Easton one and found a couple other brands cheaper than that later. With some of the unnecessary money we lay out, especially for the latest sticks, I consider this money well spent.

The disclaimers are everywhere about hockey being a dangerous sport. I'm sure you have all read it when you are signing your kids up each year for your associations, waivers before summer hockey, signs hanging up in arenas. If we are going to accept the risk for our kids, don't we owe it to them to buy them the best and most protection we can?

[DMom]

AF1, I agree 100%. We took him out and outfitted him head to toe when the oldest started PeeWees. Top of the line, well fitting equipment. The price is cheaper than one trip to the emergency room. Not that it will stop everything but at least you can sleep knowing you have done the best you can. Mine all started out wearing neck guards. got teased as they got older (only one in team pic wearing neck guard, etc, etc). they watched the video this morning and were shocked by the blood trail. They'll start wearing them again tonight, voluntarily. It's not as if a neck guard impedes their speed or shooting or sight.

[slasher]

Preach safety! Buying new updated equipment is cheaper than going to the emergency room.
This also goes for youth players playing pick up hockey outdoors. Put a helmet / neck guard on the kids.

[niceice909]

come on enough of this nonsense neck gaurds are for wussies play old time hockey and the neck gaurds make you look like a nerd herd

and then agian what do you expect with 10 men skating around with knifes attached to there feet go diving into corners

[hockey129]

[quote="niceice909"]come on enough of this nonsense neck gaurds are for wussies play old time hockey and the neck gaurds make you look like a nerd herd

and then agian what do you expect with 10 men skating around with knifes attached to there feet go diving into corners[/quote]


Wow, old time hockey. That is your excuse? Pretty sad. more districts besides district 6 should make a rule about neck guards. I think usa hockey should get involved too.

[WhatIsIcing?]

I witnessed a similar freak accident in a Jr. Gold game a few years back. An innocent, on-ice collision resulted in a player's throat being slashed by a skate blade, cutting him from just below his ear to the front of his neck, nicking his jugular, carotid and windpipe.

While I think neck guards may help in certain situations, some doctors will argue that they can sometimes cause more serious injuries. A skate blade can be deflected off of the neck guard and get lodged under the jaw bone, resulting in a much deeper and potentially more dangerous injury.

The decision to wear or not to wear a neck guard is an important one, however it should be left up to players and parents and not mandated by associations.

By the way, the player referenced above fully recovered and went on to play 2 more seasons of hockey.

[hiptzech]

come on enough of this nonsense neck gaurds are for wussies play old time hockey and the neck gaurds make you look like a nerd herd

and then agian what do you expect with 10 men skating around with knifes attached to there feet go diving into corners

Wow, old time hockey. That is your excuse? Pretty sad. more districts besides district 6 should make a rule about neck guards. I think usa hockey should get involved too.

Consider the source of the comment and the lenght of his hockey career.

1st of all
dlhhockey when you repair your shaft it makes it very heavy and depends where you break it.
it can mess with your shot by making it heavier in one spot

also i use a s17 100 flex uncut foresberg curve and i love it (2 months old)
and i tried a wood and there was a significant change in velocity in my slap shot and wrist shot got way worse since i could snap my wrist through the shot very fast
and i can snap the passes off in a snap
favorite stick in all my hockey career

Old Time Hockey? I would at least give you credit if you referred to the age of Easton Alum. sticks...

Not much hockey older than Canadian Hockey, they skate with neck guards and no mouth guards are required...

[hockeyparent11]

Zednick knew enough to skate straight to the bench where team doctors were waiting for him and he was in ambulance within 60 seconds of being cut.

Under those circumstances, he lost 30% of his blood and almost died.

Our kids would be fortunate to be in the ambulance within five minutes. How much blood would they lose?

Neck guards are cheap.

Blood is like toothpaste-you can't put it back once its out.

Rule or not, kids should wear neckguards.

[Snappedshot]

A neck guard is like a seatbelt. You hope you don't need it, it's a little uncomfortable but you sure are glad you're wearing it when you need it.

[Bronc]

Zednick knew enough to skate straight to the bench where team doctors were waiting for him and he was in ambulance within 60 seconds of being cut.

Under those circumstances, he lost 30% of his blood and almost died.

Our kids would be fortunate to be in the ambulance within five minutes. How much blood would they lose?

Neck guards are cheap.

Blood is like toothpaste-you can't put it back once its out.

Rule or not, kids should wear neckguards.

There is nothing that prevents players from wearing the neck guard now and they are not illegal.

This is a parental decision for their player.

If you want your player to wear one, have them wear it.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

D5 players are required to wear them, I first thought this was a MN hockey rule but found out it was a district mandate. Any game that they play regardless of where its at, neck guards must be worn.

How many others have to wear them?

Get kids wearing them when they are young. How many of us wore bike helmets as a kid, now days they almost all wear them.

Marty, when did youth hockey become a fashion statement?

[Marty McSorely]

There is ZERO proof a neck guard would stop a skate blade. If you look at them they are a cheap gimmick to make mommies feel better. The more equipment you put on a kid the more violent the game becomes!

[ICEREF]

Marty:
Wake up & smell the coffee, then talk to us about all those neckguard facts you have!

[Alohafriday7]

There is ZERO proof a neck guard would stop a skate blade. If you look at them they are a cheap gimmick to make mommies feel better. The more equipment you put on a kid the more violent the game becomes!

Hockey is already violent with the likes of stick swinging goons
Yet some MN districts and minors in Canada make them mandatory..last time I checked it's protecting children. You're correct that there is no proof that it would stop a skate blade. My guess is the odds are greater it would protect you more than it would hurt you..

From the THN website:
The incident, replayed on TV screens around North America, could possibly have been less serious had Zednik been wearing a neck protector - a must for players in minor hockey in Canada but a rarity for NHLers..

[slasher]

There is ZERO proof a neck guard would stop a skate blade. If you look at them they are a cheap gimmick to make mommies feel better. The more equipment you put on a kid the more violent the game becomes!

Marty, You have a good point. When college hockey elected to use the cages. The players all became tough guys. Sticks were up. Hitting after the whistle. All the players are tough guys. This is a youth site.

At the youth level. It is up to adults to make the right decision. I don't see anything wrong for passing a rule that mini-mites, mites, squirts, peewee's or bantams have to wear neck guards. If the kids wear the neck guards at a young age. They won't know any difference as they go through the ranks.
Lets face the facts. Wearing a neck guard doesn't have any negative effect on the players ability during the game.

I'd rather spend $8 bucks on a neck guard versus thousands on hospital bills or worse yet. A funeral.

No brainer!

[QuackerTracker]

This year while reffing I saw a kid take a skate in the neck and he was not cut thanks to the neck gaurd. I have never seen fear in a childs eyes like this KID on the ice with his hands on his neck worried about if he was bleeing. Untill this happened I thought the neck gaurd was a waist.

[Marty McSorely]

Actually I've had a change of heart. My kids will now wear them! I actually had a neck/clavical collar while playing in SO Cal, got hit with a high stick that it actually broke the hard plastic in the collar.

I still stand by the fact the equipment made to day is over protective which has lead our sport to become more violent with crazed parents looking for the next smash mouth hit.

[northwoods oldtimer]

McSorely is correct in more stuff you throw on a kid the more violant the game becomes. Face masks are proof of that, increase in head and neck injuries.

[slasher]

McSorely is correct in more stuff you throw on a kid the more violant the game becomes. Face masks are proof of that, increase in head and neck injuries.

Northwoods- As a parent. Isn't our duty to make sure the kids are protected?

Put the neck guard on. It doesn't effect the way the game is played at ALL. It will NOT make the kids anymore aggressive.

Last year. Majority of the coaches were complaining when they had to wear helmets. Last year I heard at least 12 coaches that fell and hit their heads hard. No severe injuries or deaths. Seems like a good rule to me. Yet alot of people complain about the rule.
Keep in mind. Some of these coaches have skated all their lives at all levels. Not to mention coaches should be role models to the youth players.

The rules are put into place to stop severe life threatening injuries. If it makes sense. Do it!

Very simple!

[RLStars]

McSorely is correct in more stuff you throw on a kid the more violant the game becomes. Face masks are proof of that, increase in head and neck injuries.

Northwoods- As a parent. Isn't our duty to make sure the kids are protected?

Put the neck guard on. It doesn't effect the way the game is played at ALL. It will NOT make the kids anymore aggressive.

Last year. Majority of the coaches were complaining when they had to wear helmets. Last year I heard at least 12 coaches that fell and hit their heads hard. No severe injuries or deaths. Seems like a good rule to me. Yet alot of people complain about the rule.
Keep in mind. Some of these coaches have skated all their lives at all levels. Not to mention coaches should be role models to the youth players.
The rules are put into place to stop severe life threatening injuries. If it makes sense. Do it!

Very simple!

Coaches should wear neck guards also?

District 5 has had a neck guard policy for at least 7 years. There was never a problem with the boys wearing neck guards until bantams. The next level is HS and those guys don't wear them, so the bantams thought they didn't need them either.

[philip18]

My rule at home with all three of my players is that if they go on the ice without a neck guard their Dad will join them on the ice and escort them off. Worked great with all 3.