Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

About Those Recent, Gruesome Head Injuries

04/17/2017 at 11:47am EDT

from Ray Ratto of CSN BayArea,

The culture of celebrating facial and head injuries in hockey has always been the most cringeworthy part of the sport. It is as if the photo certifies a player as officially tough to the point of insanity about the one part of the body that should be most protected and concerned about.

Knowing what we know and are continuing to learn about CTE and other brain injuries, though, the rush to return to action (Werenski) or to get rid of protective equipment (Couture) doesn’t seem quite so noble any more. This isn’t bruise porn, which some people suggest it might be, but it is a new default position for head injuries, as in, “Hey, cool, blood! But what about that brain?”

It takes a bit of the vicarious fun out of the whole process.

Of course, the problem with this argument is that not being doctors, we cannot know just how severe the internal injuries Werenski were, or weren’t. We know he bled well, but we don’t know if he went through a full concussion protocol or just got stitched up like a sock. For all we know, he was clear as a bell except for that softball he was smuggling under his cheekbone. Without having been the examining physician, we’re not properly equipped to announce that Werenski’s care was insufficient or pressured by the culture of “playing while grotesque.” It might have been, and it might not have been, and that’s as definitive as anyone can be.

But I do know that acts of bravado when it comes to the head aren’t as much vicarious sanguinary fun as they used to be, for a very good reason. Because brains aren’t teeth, or bones, or ligaments. They are a special category, and should be treated in everyone’s thoughts as such.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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