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Add to FavoritesOn February 10, 2008, Richard Zednik had his carotid artery cut by a skate blade. The scene couldn't have been a more horrifying experience for fans, coaches and players. They all watched the blood gushing from Zednik's neck as he skated toward his bench. The terrified expression on Zednik's face was matched by all those in attendance. These are situations when we always fear the worst case scenario while quietly praying for the best. In the end, Mr. Zednik had luck on his side; he would survive what could've been certain death. The problem for the NHL is that the next player may not be as lucky. The issue is the NHL refuses to mandate and enforce the use of what should be mandatory safety equipment. The surprising aspect is that the players don't seem to care that they are at risk for preventable injuries.
This incident should teach the league and its players a valuable lesson about playing a game versus risking a life. The NHL needs to be accountable for the safety of its players to avoid another near death experience. The sad truth is that the league will have a difficult time convincing its players to accept any equipment changes even if it is in their best interest. The problem is that the players even after this incident still refuse to see any benefit from wearing protective neck guards. Most players claim neck guards don't provide enough necessary safety to deal with the uncomfortable feeling of wearing them. The reality for the NHL is that the players are correct on both of those arguments.
The question of player safety is still the main issue and will continue to be a problem until it is properly handled. Can the NHL and its players accept necessary change and work together to find a solution? The history of the NHL says both sides unfortunately will refuse to address this situation until a player meets death.
The short-term solution is for the NHL to force its players to wear some kind of protective neck guard. The NHL needs to enforce this change by fining those that refuse to wear them. This would be a simple yet effective way to open communication between the league and its players toward finding a more permanent solution. That solution should include the NHL and its players working together with equipment companies to produce safe, durable, and comfortable neck guards. The NHL and its players have a serious issue to deal with and how well they work together to find a solution could mean the difference between life and death.
Learn more about this author, Daniel Reinard.
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No
Richard Zednik is a very lucky man.Quick thinking on his part and the instincts to skate directly to the bench possibly saved his life.Training staff on both benches and a home team doctor prevented this incident from becoming a tragedy.Fortunately, Zednik will resume his hockey career next season.A similar incident took place several years ago when Buffalo goaltender, Clint Malarchuk was cut by a skate while in his crease, again quick reaction from the team's bench saved Malarchuk's life.Soon after the NHL decided that all goalies would wear a protective guard that could be attached to their masks.
The reason I chose the NO side is not that I want to see another Richard Zednik incident again but because players feel that this is an isolated incident that may or may not happen again.NHL hockey players are creatures of habit, they simply cannot change.Many players think that it is up to the individual when it comes to making decisions about the equipment, many can't wait until they reach the pros until they can remove the shields from their helmets.Many others have decided what has worked for me in the minors will work when I'm in the pros.
This has nothing to do with being macho, or the number of scars you have on your face, players know the risks they take every time they hit the ice.It maybe difficult to find something that can be comfortable to wear, that won't be a hindrance every night, and there are some players who wear a turtleneck type of garment that may or may not stop a skate blade from cutting the skin.Players need to be aware of their surroundings for this is a fast paced game and anything can happen in a split second.Several days after the Zednik incident, some of the Sabres players asked why there wasn't a doctor at any of the practices around the league, as there are during the games, after all this sort of thing can really happen at anytime, or any accident can occur during a practice, yet there has never been any dialog as to why there has never any medical personal on hand.That is something that both the league and the player's union should look into.There are neck guards available but it will always come down to a personal preference whether or not a player will feel it necessary to wear such a piece of equipment.
Until there more incidents like the one we witnessed on February 10, the league and the player's union will not press the players into wearing a neck guard, so it will become a dead issue.If, however, a player decided what he saw will make him think twice, then that's his personal chose.For now the league should not make it mandatory for players to wear neck guards.
Learn more about this author, Kelly Monteith.
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