I have a bad feeling brewing about all of this…I’m speculating but maybe this should be a wake up call to the NHL about doing something to get fighting out of the game, yes the players know the risks, but its on the NHL to protect these guys both on and off the ice

i posted this news already….

At first I thought NY Jets, but then I said wait it’s a hockey blog, and then saw Rypien so I knew. Winnipeg Jets is again something a bit before my time, but hey i’ll have to get used to it.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Another hockey player gone too soon.

RIP Rick.

At first I thought Crosby was being a little bitch but now I guess these concussions are not to be taken lightly . I hate Crosby but no one deserves to go this way and everyone who has a concussion in the league should step back and evaluate what’s going on with themselves and take as much time as they need. I love the energy from the fighting but sometimes you can tell guys don’t want to fight but do it just for crowd pleasing. I guess is it really worth it they should ask themselves and I’m not against fighting I just wish there was no repercussions with this fast paced sport and everyone always stayed healthy.

It was his devastating punch that took Boogie off the rink and started him on path to self destruction. While Boogie made a number of personal decisions after the incident that contributed/caused his own death, as a human being I think it would be difficult for Carkner to disassociate the two events.

BTW- Want to make it clear that I don’t think Carkner should feel any responsibility or guilt over what went down, just curious about what he carries away from it day to day.

This tells me that the NHL like the NFL will have to look deeper into concussions and after-affects. I don’t know if people really understand what prices many pay for head injuries, both in the short and long term. I would think though, that with a new CBA in the works, this will be something that may upend hopeful labor peace. Concussions are very touchy, and may make for a painful negotiations.

But I hope that “serious-minded” people going forward will look deeper to see that depression and other affects do take place in the “shattered” mind.

…are deeply, deeply difficult to cope with. Guys like Savard and Crosby are not just sitting around their houses, glad they don’t have to deal with off-season workouts.

Imagine waking up in the morning with the worst headache you’ve ever had. You want to vomit, and any light creates a searing pain in your eyes and head. You often stumble when you stand up because of vertigo (dizziness). Simple tasks are exhausting and you feel tired a lot. You also have wild mood swings and get frustrated easily. Now imagine trying to play hockey with all of this.

Concussions are EXTREMELY serious injuries and there’s no timetable for when they heal. They can heal up the next day or never.

Boogey and (possibly) Rypien had to deal with these symptoms day in and day out. I can’t even begin to imagine how much it sucked. I’m not suggesting that death is a feasible alternative, but they were probably not living happy, fulfilling lives with their concussions.

I hope that Savard, Crosby, Perron, and all the other guys that are dealing with concussion symptoms can heal up soon.

Much too young to lose,

You can add him to the list of tough guys who had brain trauma issues. There are 2 separate issues under this concussion umbrella:

1) Fighting
2) Head shots during the course of play

Both issues are something that needs to be taken seriously, with heavy penalties for players who give head shots to opposing players.

Fighting is a tricky subject, as it has been in the league for decades, and seems to add a degree of policing among the players themselves, as well as entertainment value for the fans. At some point, the league is going to weigh whether the bad publicity from enforcers being brain damaged is bad for public image and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it banned in years to come. Having players die directly due to on-ice activities is not something the league wants on its conscience.

Firstly, my condolences to family and friends. I came here to read about this after articles at Yahoo! and related links were littered with a) disregard for the death of a player (little in condolences) and b)using it again as a podium for spewing anti-fighting drivel. I would love to see some statistics that examine injuries in the NHL and how they came about. I am sure the overwhelming amounts will have been from the puck and illegal hits. The media frames things they way they want – every Rypien article I have read mentions Boogaard (and many others Probert too) to help instill that subconscious NHL tough-guy/drug addiction/depression connection. All I can say is that these instances are much deeper than the surface level portrayed. What would explain many of these players’ charity work? Could it be possible that fighting is used as a means of dealing with aggression/anxiety/temperament issues that existed long before their hockey careers (similar to a child fighting often in middle school)? Lots more has to be examined and more should be done to focus on the NHL and its support of people with disabilities and mental health issues.