Probably by now you’ve heard the story of Minnesota high school hockey player Jack Jablonski and the horrific injury he has suffered as a result of a hit from behind into the boards.
Mom’s Team has a very nice post about it and so does Yahoo’s Puck Daddy. And Jack Blatherwick’s column at Let’s Play Hockey says it all: Adults must make it happen: Replace violence with skill.
I think every hockey mom and every hockey dad, whether they want to admit it or not, has this in the back of their mind every time they watch their players compete. Hockey is a fast moving game with unforgiving, fixed boards and that, combined with physical play, can result in some devastating injuries. And while a broken ankle or separated shoulder can be fixed, a severed spinal column doesn’t heal so well and you can end up looking at your child in a hospital room and wondering what the rest of his life will be like.
I don’t think USA Hockey goes far enough in protecting our kids from injuries like this because they don’t make the penalty for this hit severe enough. Currently, the rule is graduated depending on the severity of the hit or if it results in an injury, and leaves the judgment to the referee. This is the current rule:
USA HOCKEY RULE BOOK
Rule 608 Checking from Behind
(a) A minor plus a misconduct penalty, or a major plus a game
misconduct penalty, shall be assessed to any player who body
checks or pushes an opponent from behind.
(b) A major penalty plus game misconduct penalty shall be
assessed to any player who injures an opponent as a result of
checking from behind or who body checks or pushes an
opponent form behind causing them to go head first into the
boards or goal frame.
(c) A match penalty for attempt to injure or deliberate injury to
an opponent may also be assessed for checking from behind.
Let’s take it out of the ref’s hands and put the onus on the players and coaches. I believe that ANY hit from behind should result in a major penalty and a game suspension. Yes, I said ANY hit from behind.
I just created a petition entitled USA Hockey: Change R608 so any hit from behind gets automatic major + game misconduct, because I care deeply about this and the safety of our players.
I’m trying to collect 100 signatures, and I could really use your help.
To read more about what I’m trying to do and to sign my petition, click here:
Let’s take these kinds of hits out of the game forever so we don’t have to read another story about a promising young player in a hospital bed. Let’s put pressure on our coaches and our rule makers to take this seriously by placing serious consequences on those who make these hits.
If you’d like to make a contribution to help Jack Jablonski, here’s an address for you.
Jack Jablonski Fund,
Wells Fargo Bank,
8200 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427
Or donate at ANY Wells Fargo location