Junior Player Rips Hockey Alberta for Letting Player Off the Hook for 'Ruthless' Check

Joel Webb of the Northeast Alberta Junior Hockey League's Lloydminster Bandits is calling for change.

Webb recently documented an experience of his which left him with a serious head injury, confined to a darkroom in the aftermath. Webb says the 'ruthless' hit which left him so came at the behest of a repeat offender, who escaped due punishment.

The 18-year old protests that junior leagues all over Canada prioritize feelings over the health and safety of their players. He notes that the perpetrator of his incident received a 3-games suspension.

Webb alludes to longer suspensions for things like abuse of officials/opposing players, profanity, and other forms of verbal abuse; posing the question: should leagues penalize verbal abuse over their players' collective safety?

The incident in question:

I was knocked out the other night on a ruthless hit, I have been sitting in a dark room since. I have not left my house. This player is a repeat offender and only received a 3-4 game suspension. Players get suspended more for saying bad words. Do feelings matter more than health? pic.twitter.com/xLXVRRxJqL— Joel Webb (@JoelWebb04) February 28, 2023

Given all the science concerning head trauma - with more and more each day - one would be correct in assuming such incidents would be a top priority. Or, at least showing genuine concern if they are not.

Hockey is dangerous enough.

Flying at high speeds on sharp blades, hockey players (and this might sound dramatic but it's the same as getting behind the wheel of a car) risk injury each time they lace up the skates. Player safety - like it or not - is a legitimate reason for folks to steer their children towards safer activities.

Therefore, it is imperative for recruitment of future generations that leagues protect the interests of its current ones. The consequences of taking a timid approach will prove costly.

Opinion:

Culture is uniquely a top-down phenomenon. What the leaders of a given field tend to do dictates the theme of the entire body. The NHL's Department of Player Safety sort of holds the reins for the sport of hockey in that regard.

Yet, George Parros & co. have proven time and time again that punishing those guilty of headshots and various other indiscretions is not a top concern.

(see: Watson v. Motte, Watson was neither fined nor suspended)

Ipso facto, a culture of laissez faire attitudes concerning head injuries has become commonplace in our great game. For the purpose of evading the aforementioned consequences, I agree with Webb that change is needed all across hockey.

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