Insider Says Another NHLer's Career in Jeopardy Due to Repeated Head Injuries

Head injuries have long been understudied and overlooked in contact sports. In hockey especially, the culture of 'battling through injury' is prevalent, which isn't inherently a bad thing. Personally, it taught me a lot about fighting through adversity and the strength to do so.

When it comes to head injuries, though, they are not to be trifled with. Yet, time and time again, we see a player take a huge blow to his head and return to action shortly after; usually too soon, realistically.

It's not lost on me, that NHL players are among the toughest people on Earth. However, the lasting affects of repeated head injuries far outweigh the benefits of fighting through them. Study after study has proven the long-term affects can be debilitating, and I speak from experience when I say that the studies are correct.

Recently, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek had to be shut down due to his latest head injury, with fear that his NHL career is over. Vancouver insider Rick Dhaliwal reports that another player has possibly fallen prey to repeated head injuries, who career could also be over as a result.

Poolman played three games earlier this season before being shut down, also managing just 79 games over the past two seasons. The 29-year old hasn't played a full season once in his NHL career, topping out at 57 games in '19-20.

Fortunately, for athletes going forward head injuries are being taken much more seriously, with more and more resources going into them each year. The bad news is, head injuries are still largely misunderstood, and we have much to learn about them.

Best of luck to Tucker Poolman, Jakub Voracek, and everyone else battling through concussions/head trauma.

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