08-24-2022, 12:29 AM
![[Image: hockeypuck.gif]](https://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sports/hockeypuck.gif)
to start it off this season, in "honor" of the 'Lanche, we give you...the Good Friday Massacre...lllleeeet's get ready to rrrrrruuuumbblllleeee!
to start it off this season, in "honor" of the 'Lanche, we give you...the Good Friday Massacre...lllleeeet's get ready to rrrrrruuuumbblllleeee!
08-25-2022, 08:59 AM
Here's this year's 2022 draft from July:
Round 1
![[Image: mtl.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/mtl.png){kind=small}
1. Montreal Canadiens: Juraj Slafkovsky, LW![[Image: nj.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/nj.png){kind=small}
2. New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec, D![[Image: ari.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/ari.png){kind=small}
3. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley, C![[Image: sea.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/sea.png){kind=small}
4. Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright, C![[Image: phi.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/phi.png){kind=small}
5. Philadelphia Flyers: Cutter Gauthier, LW![[Image: cbj.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/cbj.png){kind=small}
6. Columbus Blue Jackets: David Jiricek, D![[Image: chi.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/chi.png){kind=small}
7. Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Korchinski, D![[Image: det.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/det.png){kind=small}
8. Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper, C![[Image: buf.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/buf.png){kind=small}
9. Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Savoie, C[/img]![[Image: ana.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/ana.png){kind=small}
10. Anaheim Ducks: Pavel Mintyukov, D[/img]11. Arizona Coyotes: Conor Geekie, C12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Denton Mateychuk, D13. Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar, C![[Image: wpg.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/wpg.png){kind=small}
14. Winnipeg Jets: Rutger McGroarty, RW![[Image: van.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/van.png){kind=small}
15. Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW16. Buffalo Sabres: Noah Ostlund, C![[Image: nsh.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/nsh.png){kind=small}
17. Nashville Predators: Joakim Kemell, RW![[Image: dal.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/dal.png){kind=small}
18. Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel, D![[Image: min.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/min.png){kind=small}
19. Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren, LW![[Image: wsh.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/wsh.png){kind=small}
20. Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW![[Image: pit.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/pit.png){kind=small}
21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Owen Pickering, D22. Anaheim Ducks: Nathan Gaucher, C![[Image: stl.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/stl.png){kind=small}
23. St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud, RW24. Minnesota Wild: Danila Yurov, RW25. Chicago Blackhawks: Sam Rinzel, D26. Montreal Canadiens: Filip Mesar, RW![[Image: sj.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/sj.png){kind=small}
27. San Jose Sharks: Filip Bystedt, C28. Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich, C29. Arizona Coyotes: Maveric Lamoureux, D30. Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert, C![[Image: tb.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/tb.png){kind=small}
31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Isaac Howard, LW![[Image: edm.png]](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/edm.png){kind=small}
32. Edmonton Oilers: Reid Schaefer, LW08-25-2022, 09:00 AM
Round 2
33. Montreal Canadiens: Owen Beck, C, Mississauga (OHL)
34. San Jose Sharks: Cameron Lund, C, Green Bay (USHL)
35. Seattle Kraken: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
36. Arizona Coyotes: Artem Duda, D, CSKA-2 (Russia Jr.)
37. Washington Capitals: Ryan Chesley, D, US U-18 (NTDP)
38. Toronto Maple Leafs: Fraser Minten, C, Kamloops (WHL)
39. Chicago Blackhawks: Paul Ludwinski, C, Kingston (OHL)
40. Detroit Red Wings: Dylan James, LW, Sioux City (USHL)
41. Buffalo Sabres: Topias Leinonen, G, JYP (Finland)
42. Anaheim Ducks: Noah Warren, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)
43. Arizona Coyotes: Julian Lutz, LW, Munchen (Germany)
44. Columbus Blue Jackets: Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga (OHL)
45. San Jose Sharks: Mattias Havelid, D, Linkoping (Sweden)
46. New Jersey Devils: Seamus Casey, D, US U-18 (NTDP)
47. Minnesota Wild: Hunter Haight, C, Barrie (OHL)
48. Vegas Golden Knights: Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw (OHL)
49. Seattle Kraken: Jani Nyman, RW, Ilves (Finland)
50. Dallas Stars: Christian Kyrou, D, Erie (OHL)
51. Los Angeles Kings: Jack Hughes, C, Northeastern (Hockey East)
52. Detroit Red Wings: Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW, SKA St. Petersburg-2 (Russia Jr.)
53. Anaheim Ducks: Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)
54. Boston Bruins: Matthew Poitras, C, Guelph (OHL)
55. Winnipeg Jets: Elias Salomonsson, D, Skelleftea (Sweden)
56. Minnesota Wild: Rieger Lorenz, LW, Okotoks (AJHL)
57. Chicago Blackhawks: Ryan Greene, C, Green Bay (USHL)
58. Seattle Kraken: Niklas Kokko, G. Karpat Jr. (Finland Jr.)
59. Calgary Flames: Topi Ronni, C, Tappara (Finland)
60. Carolina Hurricanes: Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omsk 2 (Russia Jr.)
61. Seattle Kraken: David Goyette, C, Sudbury (OHL)
62. Montreal Canadiens: Lane Hutson, D, US U-18 (NTDP)
63. New York Rangers: Adam Sykora, LW, Nitra (Slovakia)
64. Ottawa Senators: Filip Nordberg, D, Sodertalje Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
65. New York Islanders: Calle Odelius, D, Djurgarden (Sweden)
08-25-2022, 09:01 AM
Round 3
66. Chicago Blackhawks: Gavin Hayes, LW, Flint (OHL)
67. Arizona Coyotes: Miko Matikka, RW, Denver (NCHC)
68. Seattle Kraken: Ty Nelson, D, North Bay (OHL)
69. Philadelphia Flyers: Devin Kaplan, RW, US U-18 (NTDP)
70. Washington Capitals: Alexander Suzdalev, LW, HV 71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
71. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Perevalov, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia Jr.)
72. Ottawa Senators: Oskar Pettersson, RW, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
73. St. Louis Blues: Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, C, HIFK Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
74. Buffalo Sabres: Viktor Neuchev, LW, Yekaterinburg 2 (Russia Jr.)
75. Montreal Canadiens: Vinzenz Rohrer, C, Ottawa (OHL)
76. San Jose Sharks: Michael Fisher, D, St. Mark's School (High-MA)
77. Winnipeg Jets: Danil Zhilkin, C, Guelph (OHL)
78. New York Islanders: Quinn Finley, LW, Madison (USHL)
79. Vegas Golden Knights: Jordan Gustafsson, C, Seattle (WHL)
80. Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson, D, Orebro (Sweden)
81. Chicago Blackhawks: Samuel Savoie, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL)
82. Nashville Predators: Adam Ingram, C, Youngstown (USHL)
83. Dallas Stars: George Fegaras, D, North York (OJHL)
84. Nashville Predators: Kasper Kulonummi, D, Tappara Jr. (Finland Jr.)
85. Washington Capitals: Ludwig Persson, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
86. Tampa Bay Lightning: Lucas Edmonds, RW, Kingston (OHL)
87. Ottawa Senators: Tomas Hamara, D, Tappara (Finland)
88. St. Louis Blues: Michael Buchinger, D, Guelph (OHL)
89. Minnesota Wild: Michael Milne, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)
90. Chicago Blackhawks: Aidan Thompson, C. Lincoln (USHL)
91. Seattle Kraken: Ben MacDonald, C, Noble & Greenough (High-MA)
92. Montreal Canadiens: Adam Engstrom, D, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
93. Florida Panthers: Marek Alscher, D, Portland (WHL)
94. Arizona Coyotes: Jeremy Langlois, D, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
95. Toronto Maple Leafs: Nicholas Moldenhauer, RW, Chicago (USHL)
96. Columbus Blue Jackets: Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)
97. New York Rangers: Bryce Mcconnell-Barker, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
08-25-2022, 09:02 AM
Round 4
98. New York Islanders: Isaiah George, D, London (OHL)
99. Winnipeg Jets: Garrett Brown, D, Sioux City (USHL)
100. Seattle Kraken: Tyson Jugnauth, D, West Kelowna (BCHL)
101. Carolina Hurricanes: Simon Forsmark, D, Orebro (Sweden)
102. New Jersey Devils: Tyler Brennan, G, Prince George (WHL)
103. Los Angeles Kings: Kenny Connors, C, Dubuque (USHL)
104. Ottawa Senators: Stephen Halliday, C, Dubuque (USHL)
105. Detroit Red Wings: Anton Johansson, D, Leksand Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
106. Buffalo Sabres: Mats Lindgren, D, Kamloops (WHL)
107. Anaheim Ducks: Ben King, C, Red Deer (WHL)
108. San Jose Sharks: Mason Beaupit, G, Spokane (WHL)
109. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kirill Dolzhenkov, RW, CSKA 2 (Russia Jr.)
110. New Jersey Devils: Daniil Orlov, D, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 2 (Russia Jr.)
111. New York Rangers: Noah Laba, C, Lincoln (USHL)
112. Vancouver Canucks: Daimon Gardner, C, Warroad (High-MN)
113. Detroit Red Wings: Amadeus Lombardi, C, Flint (OHL)
114. Nashville Predators: Cole O'Hara, RW, Tri-City (USHL)
115. Dallas Stars: Gavin White, D, Hamilton (OHL)
116. Los Angeles Kings: Angus Booth, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
117. Boston Bruins: Cole Spicer, C, US U-18 (NTDP)
118. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sergey Murashov, G, Loko-76 Yaroslavl (Russia Jr.)
119. Boston Bruins: Dans Locmelis, C, Lulea Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
120. St. Louis Blues: Arseni Koromyslov, D, SKA St. Petersburg 2 (Russia Jr.)
121. Minnesota Wild: Ryan Healey, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)
122. Toronto Maple Leafs: Dennis Hildeby, G, Farjestad Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
123. Seattle Kraken: Tucker Robertson, C, Peterborough (OHL)
124. Carolina Hurricanes: Cruz Lucius, RW, US U-18 (NTDP)
125. Florida Panthers: Ludvig Jansson, D, Sodertalje Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
126. New Jersey Devils: Charles Leddy, D, US U-18 (NTDP)
127. Montreal Canadiens: Cedrick Guindon, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)
128. Vegas Golden Knights: Cameron Whitehead, G, Lincoln (USHL)
129. Detroit Red Wings: Maximilian Kilpinen, LW, Orebro Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
08-25-2022, 09:22 AM
Round 5
130. Montreal Canadiens: Jared Davidson, C, Seattle (WHL)
131. Arizona Coyotes: Matthew Morden, D, St. Andrews College (High-ON)
132. Boston Bruins: Frederic Brunet, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)
133. Philadelphia Flyers: Alex Bump, LW, Prior Lake (High-MN)
134. Buffalo Sabres: Vsevolod Komarov, D, Quebec (QMJHL)
135. Toronto Maple Leafs: Nikita Grebenkin, RW, Magnitogorsk 2 (Russia Jr.)
136. Ottawa Senators: Jorian Donovan, D, Hamilton (OHL)
137. Detroit Red Wings: Tnias Mathurin, D, North Bay (OHL)
138. Columbus Blue Jackets: Sergei Ivanov, G, SKA St. Petersburg 2 (Russia Jr.)
139. Anaheim Ducks: Connor Hvidston, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
140. San Jose Sharks: Jake Furlong, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
141. New Jersey Devils: Petr Hauser, RW, Sparta Jr. (Czech Jr.)
142. New York Islanders: Matthew Maggio, RW, Windsor (OHL)
143. Ottawa Senators: Cameron O'Neill, RW, Mount St. Charles (High-RI)
144. Vancouver Canucks: Ty Young, G, Prince George (WHL)
145. Vegas Golden Knights: Patrick Guay, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
146. Nashville Predators: Graham Sward, D, Spokane (WHL)
147. Dallas Stars: Maxim Mayorov, G, Togliatti 2 (Russia Jr.)
148. Los Angeles Kings: Otta Salin, D, HIFK (Finland)
149. Washington Capitals: Jake Karabela, C, Guelph (OHL)
150. Pittsburgh Penguins: Zam Plante, C, Hermantown (High-MN)
151. Ottawa Senators: Kevin Reidler, G, AIK Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
152. St. Louis Blues: Marc-Andre Gaudet, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
153. Minnesota Wild: David Spacek, D, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
154. Anaheim Ducks: Michael Callow, RW, St. Sebastian's School (High-MA)
155. Calgary Flames: Parker Bell, LW, Tri-City (WHL)
156. Carolina Hurricanes: Vladimir Grudinin, D, CSKA 2 (Russia Jr.)
157. Florida Panthers: Sandis Vilmanis, LW, Lulea Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
158. Edmonton Oilers: Samuel Jonsson, G, Brynas Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
159. New York Rangers: Vittorio Mancini, D, Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
160. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nick Malik, G, Kookoo (Finland)
161. New York Rangers: Maxim Barbashev, LW, Moncton (QMJHL)
08-25-2022, 09:23 AM
Round 6
162. Montreal Canadiens: Emmett Croteau, G, Waterloo (USHL)
163. Arizona Coyotes: Maksymilian Szuber, D, Munchen (Germany)
164. Seattle Kraken: Barrett Hall, C, Gentry Academy (High-MN)
165. Philadelphia Flyers: Hunter McDonald, D, Chicago (USHL)
166. New Jersey Devils: Josh Filmon, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
167. Pittsburgh Penguins: Nolan Collins, D, Sudbury (OHL)
168. Ottawa Senators: Theo Wallberg, D, Dubuque (USHL)
169. Los Angeles Kings: Jared Wright, RW, Omaha (USHL)
170. Buffalo Sabres: Jake Richard, RW, Muskegon (USHL)
171. Carolina Hurricanes: Jakub Vondras, G, Plzen Jr. (Czech Jr.)
172. San Jose Sharks: Joey Muldowney, RW, Nichols School (High-NY)
173. Chicago Blackhawks: Dominic James, C, Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
174. New York Islanders: Daylan Kuefler, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
175. Winnipeg Jets: Fabian Wagner, C, Linkoping Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
176. Vancouver Canucks: Jackson Dorrington, D, Des Moines (USHL)
177. Vegas Golden Knights: Ben Hemmerling, RW, Everett (WHL)
178. Anaheim Ducks: Vyacheslav Buteyets, G, Chelmet (Russia Jr.)
179. Dallas Stars: Matthew Seminoff, RW, Kamloops (WHL)
180. Los Angeles Kings: Jack Sparkes, D, St. Michaels (OJHL)
181. Washington Capitals: Ryan Hofer, RW, Everett (WHL)
182. Pittsburgh Penguins: Luke Devlin, C, St. Andrews College (High-ON)
183. Boston Bruins: Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current (WHL)
184. St. Louis Blues: Landon Sim, RW, London (OHL)
185. Minnesota Wild: Servac Petrovsky, C, Owen Sound (OHL)
186. Florida Panthers: Josh Davies, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
187. Buffalo Sabres: Gustav Karlsson, C, Orebro Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
188. Chicago Blackhawks: Nils Juntorp, RW, HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
189. Florida Panthers: Tyler Muszelik, G, US U-18 (NTDP)
190. Edmonton Oilers: Nikita Yevseyev, D, Bars Kazan (Russia Jr.)
191. New York Rangers: Zakary Karpa, C, Harvard (ECHC)
192. Tampa Bay Lightning: Connor Kurth, R, Dubuque (USHL)
193. Colorado Avalanche: Chris Romaine, D, Milton Academy (High-MA)
08-25-2022, 09:23 AM
Round 7
194. Montreal Canadiens: Petteri Nurmi, D, HPK (Finland)
195. San Jose Sharks: Eli Barnett, D, Victoria (BCHL)
196. Seattle Kraken: Kyle Jackson, C, North Bay (OHL)
197. Philadelphia Flyers: Santeri Sulku, LW, Jokerit Jr. (Finland Jr.)
198. New Jersey Devils: Artem Barabosha, D, CSKA 2 (Russia Jr.)
199. Chicago Blackhawks: Riku Tohila, C, JYP Jr. (Finland Jr.)
200. Boston Bruins: Jackson Edward, D, London (OHL)
201. Detroit Red Wings: Owen Mehlenbacher, C, Muskegon (USHL)
202. Buffalo Sabres: Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson, RW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
203. Columbus Blue Jackets: James Fisher, RW, Belmont Hall (High-MA)
204. Arizona Coyotes: Adam Zlnka, RW, Sioux Falls (USHL)
205. Carolina Hurricanes: Alexander Pelevin, D, Nizhny Novgorod 2 (Russia Jr.)
206. Ottawa Senators: Tyson Dyck, C, Cranbrook (BCHL)
207. Winnipeg Jets: Domenic Divincentiis, G, North Bay (OHL)
208. Vancouver Canucks: Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
209. Vegas Golden Knights: Abram Wiebe, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)
210. Nashville Predators: Ben Strinden, C, Muskegon (USHL)
211. Buffalo Sabres: Linus Sjodin, C, Rogle (Sweden)
212. Detroit Red Wings: Brennan Ali, C, Avon Old Farms (High-CT)
213. Washington Capitals: David Gucciardi, D, Michigan State (Big 10)
214. Florida Panthers: Liam Arnsby, C, North Bay (OHL)
215. Los Angeles Kings: Kaler Lawrence, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
216. Montreal Canadiens: Miguel Tourigny, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
217. San Jose Sharks: Reese Laubach, C, Northstar Christian U-18 (High-MN)
218. Toronto Maple Leafs: Brandon Lisowsky, LW, Saskatoon (WHL)
219. Calgary Flames: Cade Littler, C, Wenatchee (BCHL)
220. Philadelphia Flyers: Alexis Gendron, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
221. Florida Panthers: Jack Devine, RW, Denver (NCHC)
222. Edmonton Oilers: Joel Maatta, C, Vermont (Hockey East)
223. Tampa Bay Lightning: Dyllan Gill, D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
224. Tampa Bay Lightning: Klavs Veinbergs, LW, Riga 2 (Russia Jr.)
225. Colorado Avalanche: Ivan Zhigalov, G, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
09-12-2022, 01:35 PM
09-17-2022, 02:08 PM
09-18-2022, 05:08 PM
09-18-2022, 05:32 PM
Cleaning up what was a big offseason...
Montreal Canadiens named Nick Suzuki the 31st captain in team history. You remember Suzuki from the previous year's Stanley Cup, also from this little trade before that...Tomas Tatar, along with a 2nd-round pick, prospect went with Nick to the Habs....Still makes me a bit sick that we got nothing back for Pacioretty (what are the 'future considerations', anyways??), but he is injured this season anyway...
There are major questions about how long Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit would be out to start the season after having surgery on HIS hip (remember Vegas starting goalie Robin Lehner is out this year having surgery on BOTH HIS hips...
The Vegas Golden Knights announced that they have acquired goalie Adin Hill from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
The Golden Knights Signed current NHL Ironman Phil Kessel to a one-year deal. Kessel has gone 982 games straight without missing a contest, a steak that dates back to November 2009.
We'll see how new Vegas coach Bruce cassidy reacts if kessel struggles in his new home. Will he break the streak, or will (the other) he break the streak? Who is he anyway?
Some said Vegas should be more Patient anjd not add any more goalies this season, relying on 25-year-old netminder Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit.
The Golden Knights did Re-Sign Reilly Smith to a three-year, $15MM contract after clearing enough cap space with the Max Pacioretty trade.
Oh, Vegas defenseman Nic Hague is no closer to a deal with the team; he is in Vegas but will likely return home if there is no deal at the start of camp. That stinks.
09-18-2022, 05:49 PM
09-18-2022, 06:48 PM
09-18-2022, 07:19 PM
09-25-2022, 06:32 PM
preseason began yesterday...several games today. Don't stop the pucking...
09-26-2022, 05:52 PM
09-29-2022, 11:49 AM
Just pre-season, and lots of players didn't skate (McKinnon, Theodore, et cetera...) but good to see Vegas get on track a bit and score 7 goals in any game. Logan Thompson looked good stopping all but 1 shot. Again, it's not the real thing against the best players, but a little bit of hope for a pivotal season to see which way Vegas will sway...
10-05-2022, 10:41 PM
'Canes lookin' good in preseason. Kraken want to sell some tix this season. Won't be quite the pushovers they were.
10-06-2022, 12:27 PM
Top doctor says hitting should be banned in minor hockey until age 18
Quote:A leading concussion and brain injury expert from Toronto Western Hospital is strongly advocating for body checking to be introduced at age 18, instead of 13 as currently mandated under Hockey Canada’s jurisdiction.
I published a report today about boys' hockey causing too many concussions with long term effects. Let's allow bodychecking at age 18 instead of 13 where it is now.
— Dr. Charles Tator (@CharlesTator) September 23, 2022
“Youth hockey leagues should raise the age of permissible bodychecking to 18 from the current age of 13-14,” Tator wrote.
“We show the potential to prevent 85 percent of bodycheck-caused concussions by raising the permissible bodychecking age from its current age of 13-14 to 18 years of age. There is also the potential to eliminate years of suffering from bodycheck-induced PCS.”
Tator has studied the effects of injury prevention in sports for decades, and has been particularly lauded for his work on spinal cord injuries. He addressed the notion of bodychecking being essential for the development of junior players who are seriously pursuing a professional career in hockey.
“Delay players going to the Canadian Hockey League for two years until they are 18 then,” Tator said to TSN’s Rick Westhead on Wednesday. “It’s a small price to pay. How much is one brain worth?”
Hockey Canada raised the minimum age of introducing body checking from 11 to 13 in 2013, which had a drastic effect on reducing concussions across minor and junior hockey. After the entry limit of age 13 years old, it falls upon individual leagues to set their criteria about how to administer body checking, with some leagues banning body checking from house league entirely.