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gurnsy200

Swiss hockey player paralyzed after hit

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Absolutely tragic event took place in the Swiss League in playoff game.

http://www.tsn.ca/other_sports/story/?id=417571

Prayers go out to Ronny and his family.

Now on to the issue, this kind of play happens far too often and major injuries like this have been avoided in the NHL SO FAR. The hit by Kaleta on Brad Richards the other night is a prime example of these types of hits and had the speed been a bit higher who knows what could have happened to Richards.

I played minor hockey growing up and a few times this happen to me, of course, not at that speed or high of impact. It is a scary play and very dirty.

Clearly this should be addressed not only in the Swiss league but all of hockey, period.

For those interested, just youtube the players name and you'll see a video of it.

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I've seen the video and while tragic I didn't think the hit was a dirty one.

The player who got injured initiated the contact by driving his shoulder into his chaser. He was just overpowered and went into the boards at a terrible angle.

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I've seen the video and while tragic I didn't think the hit was a dirty one.

The player who got injured initiated the contact by driving his shoulder into his chaser. He was just overpowered and went into the boards at a terrible angle.

I completely agree with that. Too often are players slowing up going into corners to initiate the contact to try and not get hammered into the boards. Had he just gone for the puck a play like this wouldn't have happened.

Edited by gurnsy200

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If you play hockey, you might get paralyzed. So either play hockey or don't.

Hm... I don't know if stating an obviousity like that is necessary when something horrible like this happens. You can say that you can get paralyzed every day leading a normal life. The thing is that the game of hockey evolves all the time and different ways are tried to make it more safe. I don't know if anything could've prevented that injury though.

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Hm... I don't know if stating an obviousity like that is necessary when something horrible like this happens. You can say that you can get paralyzed every day leading a normal life. The thing is that the game of hockey evolves all the time and different ways are tried to make it more safe. I don't know if anything could've prevented that injury though.

The player playing the puck instead of being worried about the guy coming to the boards with him would have prevented it. Had he not turned to engage someone who has more momentum forward than he had going the opposite way, nothing to this magnitude SHOULD have happened.

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If you play hockey, you might get paralyzed. So either play hockey or don't.

if you walk across the street you might get hit by a car and be paralyzed, so should i stay couped up everyday and put guards on all my knives and tape up every sharp object in my house, just to "be safe"?

People play hockey because they love the sport, it's tragic when something like this happens, it was a clean hit, it's unfortunate that it ended in tragedy, but that is a risk of a high level, high contact sport like hockey, football, rugby etc... but to say if you play hockey you may get paralyzed so either play or don't is a little naive if you ask me.

Running across a freeway is something dumb, and you could be seriously injured or die, running with bulls, same thing, these are things you should base that opinion on, not playing a sport you love.

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Hm... I don't know if stating an obviousity like that is necessary when something horrible like this happens. You can say that you can get paralyzed every day leading a normal life. The thing is that the game of hockey evolves all the time and different ways are tried to make it more safe. I don't know if anything could've prevented that injury though.

Fair enough.

I just don't see how this particular instance now becomes the rallying point for any kind of significant change. Hockey is only getting more dangerous, and unless there is a drastic change in things like core fundamentals to the game like taking hitting/fighting out someone is eventually going to die on the ice.

Even if you took hitting/fighting out, terrible tragedies will occur simply by probability. You have X space for Y players. People are going to run into each other and/or the boards and it may or may not include skate blades. Increase the speed of the players and the likelihood of an incident goes up even more.

Terrible to see, but getting rid of this stuff is impossible. So again, you either accept this and play hockey, or you don't.

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Fair enough.

I just don't see how this particular instance now becomes the rallying point for any kind of significant change. Hockey is only getting more dangerous, and unless there is a drastic change in things like core fundamentals to the game like taking hitting/fighting out someone is eventually going to die on the ice.

Even if you took hitting/fighting out, terrible tragedies will occur simply by probability. You have X space for Y players. People are going to run into each other and/or the boards and it may or may not include skate blades. Increase the speed of the players and the likelihood of an incident goes up even more.

Terrible to see, but getting rid of this stuff is impossible. So again, you either accept this and play hockey, or you don't.

if you take hitting/fighting out then you are left with basketball with a puck. Hockey has becoming much more safe over the years, not the other way around. Look back to when goalies didn't even where masks, hits from behind were not even penalties, you played through concussions and bloody faces. You can't possibly think it is MORE dangerous now

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if you take hitting/fighting out then you are left with basketball with a puck. Hockey has becoming much more safe over the years, not the other way around. Look back to when goalies didn't even where masks, hits from behind were not even penalties, you played through concussions and bloody faces. You can't possibly think it is MORE dangerous now

You're right. How can I possibly believe the sport is more dangerous now that players are bigger, ice surface is smaller, equipment is harder, and speeds are the fastest they've ever been.

I suppose they're only implementing things like no-touch icing, head shot majors, and things of the like because it's a much SAFER sport than it was even 10 years ago.

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Guest Crymson

I don't know what could really be done to address this. In high-speed contact sports like hockey, serious injuries of this sort are always a risk, albeit a remote one. It comes with the territory, so to speak.

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You're right. How can I possibly believe the sport is more dangerous now that players are bigger, ice surface is smaller, equipment is harder, and speeds are the fastest they've ever been.

I suppose they're only implementing things like no-touch icing, head shot majors, and things of the like because it's a much SAFER sport than it was even 10 years ago.

Injuries are down, concussions are down, most people are making clean hits now, they have the knowledge. Yes it is much safer then 10 years ago, it may not seem like it because those guys played through injuries, concussions, and any other ailment, it was seen as manly to play through it. More cowardly to nurse an injury

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Injuries are down, concussions are down, most people are making clean hits now, they have the knowledge. Yes it is much safer then 10 years ago, it may not seem like it because those guys played through injuries, concussions, and any other ailment, it was seen as manly to play through it. More cowardly to nurse an injury

This entire quote contradicts itself. How can you possibly use statistical data attempting to compare the game now to a time when those injuries were not even reported? Impossible.

I don't know what could really be done to address this. In high-speed contact sports like hockey, serious injuries of this sort are always a risk, albeit a remote one. It comes with the territory, so to speak.

Winner. Gagnant.

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Who pissed in your cereal this morning?

I don't eat cereal, but thank you for taking the time to formulate a well articulated rebuttal to the topic being discussed. Move along.

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If you play hockey, you might get paralyzed. So either play hockey or don't.

I don't eat cereal, but thank you for taking the time to formulate a well articulated rebuttal to the topic being discussed. Move along.

WIN

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This entire quote contradicts itself. How can you possibly use statistical data attempting to compare the game now to a time when those injuries were not even reported? Impossible.

Winner. Gagnant.

Because they were not reported does not mean they did not occur. Many, and I mean many retired players have gone on record saying they played through these injuries. Hell, Mickey talks about it all the time while he commentates the games, with medicine the way it is now, and the internet we are more informed about these injuries then ever before, especially the long term effects, so players are now taking the proper precautions, but that doesn't mean we should turn hockey into figure skating

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I don't know what could really be done to address this. In high-speed contact sports like hockey, serious injuries of this sort are always a risk, albeit a remote one. It comes with the territory, so to speak.

One thing I remember growing up was there was a class or series of on ice sessions that taught everyone there on how to properly deliver a body check and how to take a hit. First thing you learn is if you are going to get hit, get against the boards. 9/10 times you won't get hurt. The moment you're even a foot away from the boards, you're vulnerable and risk injury. I know for a fact that I wasn't taught to engage a player before getting to the boards. Maybe this is a new teaching or it is just people being scared to be hit (and not knowing any better), but I see this play a lot now in the NHL. In this case, clearly, it isn't a wise decision.

Edited by gurnsy200

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"Following the serious injury of the fourth thoracic vertebra, Ronny Keller will be a permanent paraplegic. There is neither head nor brain injuries."

This is so sad. I remember Jeff Kozakowski breaking his neck sliding into the boards head-first. So much boarding these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYcvkybOzbw&feature=player_embedded

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