Whitby Dunlops' player dies from head trauma

[j.hoop 64]

sure seems like a lot of deaths have happened this year. RIP Don Sanderson

http://tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=26...s=topStory_main

TORONTO - The death of a 21-year-old hockey player who died three weeks after hitting his unprotected head on the ice during a fight has renewed calls for tougher rules governing the use of helmets.

Don Sanderson, a rookie defenceman with the senior AAA Whitby Dunlops of the Ontario Hockey Association, died shortly after 1 a.m. Friday at Hamilton General Hospital.

If you would like to e-mail your thoughts and condolences to the Sanderson family, visit the Whitby Dunlops website here.

Senior AAA is the highest level of senior amateur hockey in Canada, involving players who are aged 21 and over - too old for the junior level - at the start of the season.

Sanderson, a native of Port Perry, Ont., was tussling with Brantford Blast forward Corey Fulton during the third period of a Dec. 12 game at the Brantford Civic Centre when his helmet fell off.

Towards the end of the fight, both players tumbled to the ice, causing Sanderson to strike the back of his bare head. He was out cold for about 30 seconds before he briefly regained consciousness. The York University student eventually fell into a coma, underwent brain surgery and was moved to life support until his death.

Dunlops president Steve Cardwell said the fight wasn't particularly vicious.

''It didn't look like it was as bad as obviously this has turned out to be,'' Cardwell said.

''At the time it looked like so many other fights that anybody connected with hockey would have watched over the last number of years.''

Cardwell praised Sanderson as a fierce competitor and a valuable player with a big heart. While he said his main concern is helping the family cope, he believes there needs to be closer look at the broader circumstances of Sanderson's death.

''Any time a tragedy like this happens - and it could have been prevented by a number of rule changes, or the way helmets are made, or the way that they work - that debate needs to happen,'' he said.

''Because if you lose just one life and you don't learn from it, then we're all making a big mistake.''

League rules state that helmets approved by the Canadian Standards Association must be worn and fastened securely with a chin strap.

The general unwritten rule of thumb is that no more than one or two fingers should fit between the player's chin and the strap, said OHA president Brent Ladds.

While Cardwell said ''each player has a personal choice how he wears it,'' officials will often point out improperly worn helmets during the pre-game warm-up, Ladds said.

He agreed Sanderson's death should prompt discussion on the matter, and said the issue will be raised at the organization's next monthly board meeting.

''I think our playing rulebook is full of rules that, in a lot of cases, are reactionary to something that's happened or taken place,'' he said.

''A situation as serious as this, it behooves us to sit down and say, what could we have done to prevent it and what can we do to prevent it in the future?''

While he's seen players occasionally forced to tighten their chin straps, Dunlops captain Peter MacKellar said he doesn't think the rule is being enforced strictly.

Following the fatal incident, however, he's wondering whether the rule should be revisited.

''I got into a fight one or two games later and my helmet came off and all of a sudden you're thinking about Don and you're thinking, `Jeez this could happen right now,''' he said.

''But I've seen so many helmets come off and I've seen people hit their heads on the ice before and, you know, (there were) no real complications.''

Sanderson had several on-ice scuffles this season; in 11 games with the Dunlops, he racked up four fighting majors.

The issue of helmet safety also came to the fore in 1998 when then-Ontario Hockey League player Sean Avery - who is now in the NHL - suffered a concussion and deep cut to the head when his helmet flew into the air after he was smashed into the glass by another player.

OHL commissioner David Branch said he believes responsibility for players' safety lies with hockey organizations.

''All of us that are in positions to exercise some influence have an obligation to challenge as to what we can do to hopefully not see something like this occur again,'' he said.

Within the OHA, players who get into a fight receive a game misconduct, while players who remove their own helmet during a fight are slapped with a gross misconduct.

MacKellar, who called the incident ''a freak accident,'' said the team will be dedicating the rest of the season to Sanderson.

''We'll just have to ... work just as hard as he did, because he really worked so hard this year and I was just so impressed with his work ethic and just his loyalty to his team,'' he said.

''If we can rally for him and play for him - play in his honour - I think that'd be a nice touch.''

The Whitby Dunlops website said Sanderson's funeral is likely to take place Jan. 6 in Port Perry.

[Donaldjr2448 43]

First off, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Sanderson Family!!

This kind of thing is a freak accident! However, fighting has been in the game for years and years, but now the cool thing seems to be if you getting your a@# kicked in a fight to pull the other guy to the ice (IE Jordin PooPoo). Take a look when Downey or Mac get into a fight, or even when Kocur and Probie fought, never did you see a guy go flying to the ice and land on the back of their head. Why you ask, well its simple, because those guys have respect for the other player! Thats is what the problem is RESPECT!!

Lets face it, fighting isn't the same anymore and its because the game is so fast now, and the true fighters cannot keep up in the play anymore!

I don't think the problem is the equipment, I think its the goon players that are out there and as I stated before the lack of respect!!

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

This is really sad.

To be honest, I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. The amount of times that players fall on their back without helmets on after fights is pretty high. I don't think it will lead to any rule changes, though (if it happened in the NHL it may though).

[RedArmy 4]

damn, condolences to the poor family. What a shame... I wonder for everytime I fell when I was a kid and hit my head or whatever nothing like that every happened. Almost want to blame the doctors, but have to think this is a freak accident...

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Omgness that is so awful. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

[Statts 4]

Damn. Think of how s***ty the guy he was fighting must feel. Poor guy.

[winsgnut_19 0]

There is alot of talk about the rule changes that will be made now that something like this has happened and I think its simple: players must keep their helmets on during fights. Players hands are at greater risk but thats alot better than their lives. Also players who choose to wear visors should have to be able to remove the visor but not the helmet. I don't really see any other way to avoid serious head trauma except to eliminate fighting completely.. but I don't think anyone wants that.

[Guest Four]

Damn. Think of how s***ty the guy he was fighting must feel. Poor guy.

That's exactly what I have been thinking..

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Wow, horrible thing to hear about.

[The Mule 0]

Not that location matters much surrounding a situation like this, but I live less around 15 minutes away from Whitby, and I had a chance to see this kid play in the past, so this hit me particularly hard. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

There is alot of talk about the rule changes that will be made now that something like this has happened and I think its simple: players must keep their helmets on during fights. Players hands are at greater risk but thats alot better than their lives. Also players who choose to wear visors should have to be able to remove the visor but not the helmet. I don't really see any other way to avoid serious head trauma except to eliminate fighting completely.. but I don't think anyone wants that.

Is there such a helmet where you can remove a visor? Never heard or seen of one if there is.

Fighting need not be eliminated as it is part of the game.

And, most importantly, RIP to Don Sanderson.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

This is a very sad story: 21-years of age, York U student, an amateur playing for the love of the game. And, it is amazing it doesn't happen more often.

Solutions: keep the helmets on; keep the helmets tight; keep the linesmen out of it until someone taps out.

[ben_usmc 253]

it really sucks, and RIP but should we remove checking because it can cause a concussion?

[Red Crazy 201]

Is there such a helmet where you can remove a visor? Never heard or seen of one if there is.

Fighting need not be eliminated as it is part of the game.

And, most importantly, RIP to Don Sanderson.

I have been wondering the same thing. If the visor is the issue for taking off your helmet then what about a removeable visor? Seems too easy and it may save a life or two. I wonder just how many careers could be saved if the refs stopped the fight if a helmet came off?

Rip Don Sanderson.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I have been wondering the same thing. If the visor is the issue for taking off your helmet then what about a removeable visor? Seems too easy and it may save a life or two. I wonder just how many careers could be saved if the refs stopped the fight if a helmet came off?

Rip Don Sanderson.

How can you have a visor that you can easily remove in a fight that isn't going to accidentally fall off every shift? Even if there was such a thing, you'd likely end up with something protruding from the front of the helmet that could cut a hand up pretty good.

Linesmen are NOT going to jump into an on-going fight because a helmet came off. Too dangerous for everybody involved. You'd end up with linesmen getting punched out.

Keeping helmets on during a fight isn't really a solution, either, because helmets come off accidentally, too. Plus, the number of broken hands would be huge. Ever punched a helmet? Doesn't feel good.

From all accounts, it was a freak accident and wasn't due to one player trying to tackle the other. One lost footing and they both went down.

Perhaps the only rule that could come of this is banning the intentional removal of helmets before the fight starts, but from what I heard, that didn't happen in the Sanderson fight, either.

Perhaps we need to get away from making up new rules every single time somebody gets injured or worse in a hockey game. It's the first time this has ever happened at a high level in terms of a fight causing a death. Players know the risk involved with fighting, and they accept it every time the gloves are dropped.

Edited January 3, 2009 by MacK_Attack

[Guest Shoreline]

Perhaps we need to get away from making up new rules every single time somebody gets injured or worse in a hockey game. It's the first time this has ever happened at a high level in terms of a fight causing a death.

I concur with this part. I never agreed with adding nets at the arenas because of a freak accident (you don't see the MLB adding nets to the entire outfield) and I don't agree with changing rules because of one fight that caused this.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From The Canadian Press:

The Ontario Hockey Association has unveiled an award named after the late Don Sanderson, who died in a game last January.

The OHA unveiled the Don Sanderson Award at its annual general meeting Sunday. The annual award will honour an OHA player that best exemplifies dedication, desire and discipline.

Sanderson, a member of the Whitby Dunlops, struck his head on the ice following a fight in a game against the Brantford Blast on Dec. 12. He lapsed into a coma and died Jan. 2.

[Guest micah]

From The Canadian Press:

Sucks, my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I don't know what the "fix" is. I don't want to see it happen again if it can be prevented, but I also don't want to see a knee-jerk reaction that will fundamentally change the game without good reason.

Most of me wants to see no hard padding allowed anywhere that is not life-protecting. No platic on elbow pads or shoulder pads, no visors or cages allowed. Plastic ought to be allowed only on helmets, throat protectors and chest pads, areas that must be protected. Adult hockey players ought to accept that the game hurts, that the game is supposed to hurt, and that there are risks involved. I think the game could be improved by allowing hard armour only in areas that are required to protect lives, nothing else. Helmets are to be worn and worn tight enough that they cannot be pulled off.

[EastLansingNative 1]

My condolences...

Let's add rules that don't discourage fighting, but help to shape it into something more safe and honorable.

-2 minute minor for both players if both players drop the gloves, are in a "ready position", and then engage in fisticuffs.

(yes this could lead to the dreaded "staged" fight, but I believe this is going to discourage cheap shots, and "jumping" people unexpectedly) Also, you get one fight per player per game, for a second incident for any one player during the same game, 10 minute misconduct, and a 1 game suspension.

-If both players do not assume a "ready position", a 5 minute instigator will go to the player throwing the first punch.

(encourage them to give the other player a chance to prepare themselves)

5 additional minutes for fighting, for both players, if any player is brought to the ice, regardless of who or how.

(encourage staying on your feet)

10 and a game for any player fighting with a visor.

10 and a game for fighting without a helmet.

Additional game(s) suspension for any player who loses their helmet during fisticuffs as a result of improper fitting/adjustment (chin-strap).

Additional 2 minute minor for "Glove Punching" or "hitting with a purse".