(1.) We understand you just returned from Quebec where you coached the pee wee team representing the New York Rangers at the International Pee Wee Tournament. What is the most important thing you try to teach your youth players, as a coach and a mentor?

I think the biggest thing is to make sure the kids are really enjoying themselves.  Hockey is such a fun game to play.  I think sometimes we bog the game down with too much coaching from a technical point of view.  Youth hockey coaches should be judged on how many smiles they see at practice, and by how many of the kids on their team re-enroll the next year.  By professionalizing our game too early, we run the risk of taking the sheer enjoyment out of the game — which often leads to kids leaving our game at a young age.  Hockey, like all other sports for kids, is for the mental, emotional, and physical well being of our children.  It is our job as coaches and mentors to make having fun and developing a player’s character a priority.  No matter what level you reach in hockey, there are incredible lessons to be learned that will apply to all walks of life and there are experiences to cherish for a lifetime.

While I cringe sometimes when I consider all the travel players and parents are expected to endure for youth hockey — not only for the expense, but more importantly detracting from family time and often even dividing families, I feel the Quebec tournament offers a very special experience for 12 year old players.  While the hockey is tremendous with representation from countries all over the world, the kids often come home with their fondest memories around their on and off-ice experience, including pin trading and experiencing the culture of Quebec. So many volunteers were required to pull off this event.  Quebec has been hosting this tournament for 51 years and the entire township is involved.

For our final game, there were over 10,000 fans cheering on all the players. When our boys lost, it was extremely disappointing, however they learned to respect those that worked so hard to make their time special — they skated around the Colisee and saluted those fans/volunteers to say thank you.  These are the lessons we can teach our children through the great game of hockey.  As parents, coaches, and mentors we must remember to let the kids have fun and enjoy everything hockey has to offer.

(2.) The Messier Project just launched a new small size M11 helmet to help reach the youth market. At the tournament in Quebec, the Pee Wee Rangers, the Tri-State Selects and the Semiahmoo Ravens all wore the M11. What did it mean to you to see these youth players take to the ice in the helmet you helped create? And what was your message about helmet choice and safety to the youth players, parents and coaches at the Pee Wee Tournament and to players, parents and coaches across North America?

It is very gratifying to see players of all ages and level’s wearing the M11 for many reasons.  I really feel good about the message that we have delivered to our players, coaches, parents and I believe the hockey community has really embraced the mission to change priorities in our sport — to make head protection a top priority.  For the first time in many years, I believe they have a choice to protect themselves better.  I really believe the hockey community is committed to finding real solutions to the problem that concussions have caused in our sport — and it all begins with conversation.  With the support and feedback we have received, it is evident that the conversation and the exploration of potential solutions was a welcome change and has created a sigh of relief.  Once the conversation has started, solutions can follow.  We still have a tremendous amount of work to do, but we are more determined than ever after receiving such positive feedback from the hockey community.

(3) Transitioning from Pee Wee hockey to Olympic hockey, you are soon heading to Vancouver on behalf of Team Canada.  All of Canada was stunned by Team U.S.A.’s win on Sunday night.  What were your thoughts on the game?  What does Team Canada need to do to regroup?  Expectations and anticipation for Olympic gold medal in ice hockey on home soil is so huge in Canada right now.

I thought the game between Canada and the US was just awesome.  The speed and skill that was displayed in this game was second only to the will and determination of every player on the ice.  This game was a reminder to every hockey fan about just how far the US and the other countries’ hockey programs have come in the last 10 years or more.  International hockey has remained so popular and interesting because of the competitiveness and the rivalries that exist between the countries.  For fans and players alike, the thrill of competing for your country brings special significance and tremendous energy to the games.

At the start of these Olympics, I felt that six teams had a real chance of winning the Gold medal.  Russia and Canada, the two favorites going in to the tournament find themselves playing each other in the quarter finals, just to advance.  As a fan of the game, I find myself anticipating the start of all the games.  With so many teams with a legitimate chance of winning, the drama continues to rise as the tournament progresses.  I don’t know who will emerge with the gold medal, however I do know that hockey fans around the world are being treated to some of the best hockey ever played.  Enjoy!

I hope you are enjoying the Olympics and the excitement each sport offers!  I am off to Vancouver to see the Women’s final game, the Men’s semi-final and final games in hockey.  I hope to see a little of the Bobsleigh, since I had the pleasure of working with the team this summer.  

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Last week here at The Captain’s Blog, I shared with you a letter from David Bartholomay of Minnesota who wrote to me about his son’s positive experience wearing the M11 helmet.

Since then, I have received many more letters and comments and I wanted to share two in particular with you this week – one from Coach Jason D. Power of O’Fallon High School in Illinois and one from Serena A. Spencer of Beverly Hills, California.

I appreciate all of these letters and I am honored that The Messier Project has inspired such a meaningful conversation – beginning the conversation is a start to determining solutions.  We need all the stakeholders working together to address the issue of concussion in hockey.

Jason D. Power of Illinois, Head Coach of O’Fallon High School Hockey, wrote to me about his team and how he is a strong believer in our product.  He switched his entire team over to Cascade helmets two years ago and now O’Fallon High School would like to be included as a member of The Messier Project.

Jason writes:  “Two years ago, when first introduced to Cascade’s product, I switched my entire program over to your lids. I have had multiple injuries to my players since then, all however came out fine thanks to your buckets! I sadly, have had two players run from behind this season and taken to the Children’s Hospital here in St. Louis… both times the head neurologist praised the helmets they were wearing with saving their lives. I am die hard believer in your product, and our association will continue to only use Cascade helmets!”

Jason – as I wrote to David last week, I would like to say thank you for writing in and sharing with us your team’s story.  I am relieved to hear that your players were not seriously injured after being hit from behind and that you feel Cascade’s Seven Technology helped protect your players during these hits.  It is great to have you and O’Fallon High School on The Messier Project team, and it is clear your team is providing leadership in terms of changing priorities within our sport.  Best of luck for the rest of the season!

Serena A. Spencer of Beverly Hills, California, also wrote to me this week.  She is a new hockey fan and has become very concerned about the concussion issue in the sport.

Serena writes:  “I cringe every time I see how quickly the helmets come flying off with a hard hit or fight.  When I’m watching the (Kings) game on FSW, I’ve seen the concussion issue come up briefly in commentary, but then it sort of gets blown off.  I don’t actually know enough about hockey or the rules (love the game & am reading books…), but this seems too important to not be in the forefront – especially now that the games are getting more and more physical the closer we get to playoffs.  What can people do to support your mission?”

Serena – first, thank you for your letter.  I understand your concern over the issue of concussion in hockey, especially as a new fan of our great sport.

– Mark Messier

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I received an email from David Bartholomay of Circle Pines, Minnesota last week and wanted to share it with you.

“My son is a B1 Bantam playing very rough and competitive hockey. At a tournament this weekend he sustained a hit to the head that, I believe, would have normally resulted in a concussion. But since we had purchased a M11 a couple weeks ago with this concern in mind, he was able to walk away with only his ‘bell getting rung’.

I realize I can’t medically claim that the helmet saved my son from getting a concussion, but I feel so fortunate that he was wearing your new helmet and that he was able to ‘walk away’ from what could have been a terrible situation.

Thanks so much for everything you are doing!!

Dave Bartholomay

Circle Pines, Minnesota

P.S. How can one tell if an M11 should be replaced after a strong hit?  I know that is an issue with ‘regular’ helmets, but I can’t see any damage to the helmet itself.”

I wanted to respond to David here, via The Captain’s Blog:

“First, David, I would like to say thank you for writing in and sharing with us you and your son’s story and for joining The Messier Project team in choosing the M11.  It is stories like yours that inspire me and the rest of the team here at Cascade Sports and I thank you for taking the time to reach out to us.

I am so glad to hear that your son was not seriously injured after the hit to the head he sustained and that you are pleased with the protection and performance of the M11.

Concussion awareness – including understanding the symptoms and removing the player from the game, medical attention and safe return-to-play protocol – are the most important steps in addressing concussion and I commend you, your son’s team, coaches and officials for acting quickly.

As you’ve likely read, Seven Technology’s ground-breaking impact attenuation system is designed to more effectively manage and reduce energy transferred to the brain from direct impact.  On impact, Seven Technology compresses to laterally displace energy and within seconds, completely resets to ready for the next impact.  Hockey is a multiple impact sport and with Seven Technology’s “total material reset,” it represents the sport’s first true “multiple impact technology” and that is why Seven Technology is so relevant – and so important – to hockey.

With Seven Technology, the M11’s new ProFit system and Mono90 Shell Design, we are working to create a new era of head protection in hockey.  And your note to us is extremely encouraging as it provides critical empirical evidence that we are moving in the right direction.

Regarding your question about when and if you should replace your M11 (or any other helmet) after a hard hit, I asked Bill Brine, the CEO of Cascade Sports and a true leader in helmet innovation, for some tips.  Bill gave me some information that is based on good, common sense:  If anything with your helmet looks or feels wrong, you should not use it.  You should visually inspect the helmet and read the warning label.  Do not use any helmet if you find cracks, loose or broken fasteners, torn, displaced or missing padding, or size adjusters or straps that are broken, no longer work or are loose.  Also, ensure your helmet is certified by (CSA and/or HECC) and that the certification is still valid.  Cascade Sports stands behind its product, therefore, if your M11 helmet does break, return it to the store where you purchased it, or send it back to Cascade Sports for a free repair or replacement.

Six months into our launch, we have heard so many stories like that of David’s son – about players sustaining big hits in the M11 and then getting up and skating away.  This is what gets the team up in the morning and keeps them up into the night- continuing to improve head protection through technology and product innovation – and it is a very exciting team to be a part of!  I’d like to personally thank David and all of our supporters out there for helping make The Messier Project a success and for believing in our mission.”

– Mark Messier

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In 1996, Michael Farber wrote an in-depth article for Sports Illustrated on how, largely out of vanity, an alarming number of NHL players were wearing flimsy helmets that put them at risk of severe injury.

To read the SI article, visit:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1009320/index.htm.

Now 13 years later, as the mirror test is still a key influencer today, we asked Mark Messier about the parallels he sees between the game of hockey then and now, both from a player’s perspective and now, as the leader of The Messier Project.

Here is Mark’s reply:

“One of the biggest challenges we face not only with The Messier Project but also the M11 helmet is convincing the players that protection is performance.  As a former player that played for 26 years professionally, I feel I have a very good perspective of the players’ psyche in regards to protecting themselves.  In a game where we measure our players in terms of their bravado and courage, no player wants to give the impression that they are worried about safety or injury.  This attitude can be traced back long before I started playing hockey.  It seems strange to me that we as players continue to adopt this attitude with the number of head injuries that have crept into our sport.  Every other part of our game has evolved — the rules, the arenas, the athletes, the equipment — but for some reason we have neglected the most important piece of equipment, the helmet.

It is incredible to think that Michael Farber wrote this article almost 15 years ago over his concern with the helmets the players were wearing and how they were wearing them.  One of the most frustrating things I see and hear about with the players, especially players who have had a history of concussions, is their concern with the way they look in any particular helmet.  This is very troubling and confusing, with what is at stake, not only in terms of their careers but also for their own health and well-being, and beyond that, the message they are conveying as our game’s greatest role models.  This kind of attitude only makes my own resolve that much stronger to continue to educate hockey players around the world, young and old, about the responsibility they have not only to protect themselves, but to send a strong message to our youth as well.  This is the mission of The Messier Project, and we will continue the process until we have changed priorities within our sport and all our players are making decisions regarding their helmets based on the highest indicator of performance — and that is protection.

On a positive note, I am encouraged by our progress to date.  From the support of our players, GM’s and equipment managers at the NHL level to the overwhelming response at the amateur level, I believe that everyone is paying attention.  And the public is paying attention too.  To all the visitors to The Captain’s Blog, and all those who have emailed Cascade Sports directly, I’d like to say thank you for your comments and for your support of The Messier Project.

– Mark Messier”

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Rich Boersma, a journalism student at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, is working on a story about the rising injury rates in the NHL and he had some really good questions for me and The Messier Project.  I asked Rich if I could share a few of my responses with you here on The Captain’s Blog and he was kind enough to agree.  Here are two of Rich’s questions and my reply.  Thanks to Rich for his questions; I invite all of our readers and visitors to join in the conversation by posting comments here at my blog.  I hope to hear from you.

Q:  Have you thought about expanding your line to different equipment?

“Cascade Sports have been leaders in head protection for more than 20 years.  It was their history of innovation and the company’s revolutionary Seven Technology that brought me to the table.  I knew that I could work together with Cascade Sports to bring a player’s perspective to the design and development of the new M11 hockey helmet.

While I have been working to protect all players in our game through changing priorities – so that head protection is number one – and in the development of the M11, my main focus is and always has been on the kids.  That’s why I’m very excited that The Messier Project will launch the M11 small size in February.

In regards to creating other equipment within The Messier Project line, I know Cascade Sports remains focused and committed to continuing their efforts to innovate and develop better head protection.  Cascade Sports has a long history of innovation on head protection – first in swift water rescue helmets and then in lacrosse.  In fact, Seven Technology was first used in Cascade’s Pro7 lacrosse helmet.  But as soon as I learned about Seven Tech and understood how it worked, I immediately recognized its importance and relevance to hockey.

For me, I like the fact that every dollar the company invests in research and development goes towards innovating new technologies and creating new products that improve head protection.  It is extremely expensive to design and build new products.  The opportunity is really to take this expertise and experience and bring it to more sports – because so many are struggling with the same issues as hockey, in terms of head injuries.

Applying the technology and innovation to multiple sports also helps to keep the costs of the products down, because Cascade Sports can leverage their investment across multiple sports.  When I first got involved with the company, I was very interested in the company’s ability to bring cutting edge technology and new products to the market at a price most hockey players can afford – that was extremely important to me..  If you check out the M11 compared to the other high performance helmets on the market today (in hockey), you will see how reasonably it is priced.

As the game of hockey continues to evolve, head protection and technology must continue to evolve in order to offer our athletes the best protection possible.  For now, The Messier Project will continue to focus on developing new and innovative head protection and on changing priorities in the sport of hockey.”

Q:  Do you think head shots and head injuries are the number one concern for hockey players?

“Concussions have crept into the game of hockey and I strongly believe we need to find a way to address the issue, which has become an epidemic.  For me, the mission of The Messier Project is very much about changing priorities.  The fact that we are still basically using the same technology in our helmets that we have used over the last three decades is horrifying.  Every single piece of equipment has evolved except for the helmet.

While I cannot say whether or not concussions are the number one concern for players, I can say that I feel it is an extremely important issue and one that needs to be addressed across all levels of our sport, from the pros down to youth.  While most players are aware of the issue, they just don’t go into a game, or practice for that matter, thinking they are going to get hurt.  Part of it is the mentality of an athlete (the confidence that is required), and part of it is the heritage of the sport – the expectation that hockey players are courageous and play through injuries.

I do believe that everyone is paying attention right now, and I also believe most players feel it is time to change the mentality – and with that, we have a chance to change priorities.  Over the last several months, it has been very rewarding to see the game’s greatest influencers working to find a solution.  I am proud of the M11 and the mission of The Messier Project is very personal to me.  But I also recognize that this is just one part of a finding a real solution.

We need all the stakeholders – players, coaches, General Managers, trainers, equipment mangers and parents – to come together, evaluate the current environment and all the changes that have led to the current environment (from rule changes to player attitudes and equipment evolution) to determine what really needs to be done.  In order to address the issue of concussion in hockey, we have to get everyone pulling in the same direction.  We have to gain a unified commitment from the stakeholders to find a solution… and it all starts with the conversation.”

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(1.)       Carolyn Buck of Springfield, NJ, the mother of a young squirt player, sent in a letter to The Messier Project on a very important subject – checking in youth hockey and teaching safe play in the game.  Carolyn asks what has been done in the past 10 years to change body checking and promote safe play, and she feels that 11 years old is too young to start checking.  Mark – what are your thoughts on checking in youth hockey, your thoughts on safe play and what we need to teach our youth players at an early age, and how safer checking and safe play in general can contribute to better protection against concussion and other injuries?

“Thank for bringing up this important topic, Carolyn.  Checking in hockey – especially at the youth level – is something I think about and speak about often.

The fast-paced, physical nature of hockey is what makes it exciting, and it is an integral part of the game.  But I think it is extremely important that we teach our kids at an early age how to hit, how to take a hit, and how to respect each other both on and off the ice.  It is part of our responsibility as youth coaches, mentors and stewards of the game to teach our kids this part of the game so that later on, as they move through the sport, they become responsible for taking their safety into their own hands.

We’ve changed the rules and many are working to eliminate checking and hitting to make the youth game safer.  But eliminating this aspect of the game, even at the youth level, does more harm than good in my opinion.  By trying to protect our kids with rule changes that define how we can hit, when we can hit and where we can hit, I think we’ve given our youth players a false sense of protection and in turn they have lost the protective instincts that are so important in the sport of hockey.  It is these protective instincts that must be fostered and taught at a young age.

I have perhaps a different perspective on this than most, likely because of the era I grew up and played youth and minor hockey in.  I grew up playing countless hours of shinny on the outdoor rinks in my hometown.  I grew up playing hockey knowing full well that I had to protect myself at all times.  You can’t expect everyone to play by the rules.  With this cemented in my mind at an early age, I moved through my career playing 20 years as a minor hockey player and 26 years as a professional.

Today, I think that by trying so hard to protect our kids, we have left them defenseless.  Our game will never be one that is danger free, but players don’t go in to a game thinking they are going to get hurt.  The speed at which the game is played, along with the power that is generated, has never been higher.  We need to arm our kids with the knowledge of how to protect themselves at all times, and in different situations.  The earlier we do this the better.  It is all about a balance between teaching safe play, protection instincts and making equipment decisions that best protect our players.

One of the missions of The Messier Project is to work with coaches, players, parents and the game’s stakeholders, across all levels, to encourage safe play.  While better equipment and new technology, such as that within the M11, do help better protect players, it is only one part of the solution.  Encouraging safe play is extremely important and I think that teaching kids how to give and take a check is critical.”

(2.)       Troy Traux, a visitor to The Messier Project.com and the Captain’s Blog, has raised an important point about chinstraps and how many players wear them very loose – which is dangerous.  Mark, can you share your thoughts on the importance of a well-fitting helmet, a properly worn chin strap, and how this all contributes to the safety of hockey players across all levels?

“Thanks for bringing attention to the chinstrap issue, Troy.  You are exactly right, even the most protective helmet can only protect you if it stays on your head when a collision occurs.

The correct way to wear the chinstrap is to have it securely attached to the helmet and adjusted for a snug fit.  In part because of the velocity that players are being hit these days, there is a tendency for the helmet to rise up on impact – so it is extremely important that the chinstrap be worn tightly so that the strap and the entire helmet fit snugly and ultimately stay on.

The Pro Fit system on our new M11 helmet is a dynamic contour system that creates a 360° degree fit for high comfort and performance. The ProFit draws the helmet in and around the head using a 15-point micro-adjustment system that sits low on the back of the head and eliminates pressure points and ensures a snug fit so that the helmet stays on.

It is imperative that we educate the players on protecting themselves, and the consequence of not doing so.  While players must take responsibility when it comes to protecting themselves in wearing their equipment properly and tightening their chinstrap, I think it is also necessary that we implement new rules that mandate a player must wear the equipment the way it made to protect them.”

2 Comments

A big hearty hello from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  I am here for the World Junior Championships, and if you ever get the chance to go and see these young kids play, I would highly recommend doing so.  The games are excellent, the town is completely overtaken with hockey fans from around the world, and the atmosphere is like a carnival.

With a new year upon us, and many challenges in front of us, we will continue The Messier Project campaign and our mission to evolve priorities within the sport of hockey with a goal of protecting our players better by addressing the issue of concussion.  We will continue to create awareness, lead initiatives and engage the hockey community to inspire conversation around creating solutions.

Change of any kind is always difficult.  However, we are confident in the feedback we receive from players, teams, coaches, equipment managers, trainers, mothers, fathers and many others in the hockey world who have joined The Messier Project team.  We look forward to continuing our conversation!

Here’s to a great big cheer for the tireless efforts of all our supporters and their belief in our mission.

Mark Messier

1 Comment

(1.)       Hockey has always been an important family activity for you, both when you were young and now as a father.  During this holiday season, when many families are gathering for pick-up games and playing hockey on their driveways – or if they’re lucky, on backyard ponds – can you share some of your own family hockey memories and your thoughts on the joy of playing hockey in its purest form?

My earliest memories were of playing Hockey, either outside on ice rinks, on a frozen pond, or if we were lucky enough, an indoor rink out of the wind and cold.  I was also lucky to have a father who played professional Hockey, and I can remember being able to go with him to his practices and skating before his team went on the ice.  However, I will never forget being able to go to the local outdoor corner ice rink, after school and playing shinny Hockey with my friends until dark.

(2.)       The NHL is set to celebrate a return to hockey’s roots with the upcoming Winter Classic at Fenway Park.  Can you share some of your own pond hockey and outdoor hockey memories and also your anticipation / expectations for the big game between the Flyers and the Bruins on New Year’s Day?

My entire minor Hockey was played on outdoor rinks until I was about 14.  When I had a chance to play in the outdoor game in Edmonton against the Montreal Canadians, it seemed like my Hockey career had come full circle.  There is something about playing hockey outside that invigorates the soul.  I hope that all our kids have a chance to play at least some of their minor Hockey on the outdoor rinks.

I think the game in Boston will be another great day for the game of Hockey.  The North East area of the United States has a long tradition of producing some of the game’s greatest players and continue to drive their minor league programs.  It will be a day many parents, coaches, kids, and players will remember for a long time.

(3.)       As the holiday season and the Winter Classic celebrate hockey’s deep traditions and rich history, what are your thoughts on the evolution of the game and hockey’s future?  As the New Year approaches, what are some things you’re looking forward to in the game – both on the ice and off – in 2010?

I think the NHL is as healthy as we have seen it in a long time.  We have felt the recession like every other enterprise, however, I think as a whole, we are coping very well.  I also feel that we have as many bright young talented kids in the game as we have seen in a long time.  It seems every team is boasting of a great young player.  This is good news for the NHL, as the players drive the entertainment of our game.

I am really looking forward to the Olympics in Vancouver.  The competition between Countries will be intense.  Having the games played in Canada, where we have always had so much pride in our Hockey, should make for an incredible tournament.  The game’s will be played with an extraordinary amount of talent, maybe the most in the history of our game.

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As the concussion issue in hockey continues to generate more and more attention, especially after Dr. Charles Tator’s symposium in Canada last week, I wanted to take some time this week to share my thoughts on factors that need to be addressed to better protect our players, my concerns on the current state of youth hockey, and the ways I believe the entire hockey community needs to come together to address the issue of concussion in our sport.

From Dr. Tator’s symposium and the media to the NHL General Managers to the pros themselves, everybody is paying attention to the serious issue of concussion in hockey and it is very positive to see all the game’s greatest influencers working to find a solution.  I am very proud of the M11 and the mission of The Messier Project is very personal to me.  But I also recognize that this is just one part of a finding a real solution.

We need all the stakeholders to come together to really address the issue of concussion in hockey.  I think we need to take a close look at the ways the game has changed over the years and the contributing factors to the increase in concussions, starting with the size and skill level of the athlete to new equipment and our playing surface.

I believe it is a chain of events over time that has led to where we are today with respect to the current epidemic of concussion.  The evolution of equipment is a factor – protective pads are lighter and more rigid, especially shoulder and elbow pads. And when it comes to the helmet, we need to change the priorities within our sport to make head protection a top priority.  This needs to be a concerted effort on the part of all the stake holders: players, NHL, NHLPA, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, and perhaps most importantly, the manufacturers.  I also believe we need to re-examine our certification standards, as these standards were written when the goal of the hockey helmet was to prevent catastrophic injury.  While the manufacturers have addressed that issue – as helmets do prevent catastrophic injury – we now have an alarming number of concussions at all levels of the sport, so it is clear that the standards do not address the game and players’ current need for protection.

I believe the changes in the playing area have potentially contributed to rise in concussions as well.  The glass and boards have become too rigid, and what was once a normal body check is turning into a concussion.  You can imagine the impact WWE would have if they wrestled on a concrete floor.  We need to soften the playing area and examine our equipment standards.

I also believe it is up to the players to protect themselves at all times.  I see too many players leaving themselves vulnerable expecting the opposing players to turn away.  The NHL is a game that is played with high intensity; there is a great deal on the line for every player and every organization.  That intensity is part of what I feel makes our game great.  However, our players need to take responsibility as well.

To a certain extent I believe our players have lost the necessary survival instincts because the rules that were put in place to protect them have also given the players a false sense of security.  I also think it would be worthwhile to go back and examine the impact the obstruction rule has had on hits to defensemen going back to retrieve the puck and consider whether we have made them to vulnerable to forecheckers.

From a broader perspective, I think we need to evaluate each of these changes and the impact they have had on the game, with a focus on moving forward and potential opportunities to reduce risks for player injuries.

The game must evolve, yet there is a delicate balance between allowing the game to evolve and maintaining the heritage and tradition that makes hockey the greatest game of all.

Because I believe it is the greatest game of all, I have long felt a responsibility to protect the game – and its players.

The well-known John Buccigross of ESPN.com recently posted an excellent article entitled “My 13 Simple Rules for Hockey Parents Everywhere” (http://espn.go.com/nhl/notebook/_/page/buccigross_091215/my-13-simple-rules-hockey-parents-everywhere); I encourage you to read it.   This is a subject I am quite passionate about as I have become very concerned about the state of youth hockey.

If I could dispense one piece of advice to young hockey players and their parents, I would tell them not to fall into the trap of “more is better”.  The truth is more isn’t necessarily better at a young age.  We have professionalized our sport at such an early age, with the hope of giving our children the best chance to succeed.  Parents have bought into the theory that they need their kids on the ice for 12 months a year to “make it.”  Private lessons, tournaments every weekend, have and are taking a toll on our family values.

Hockey, like all youth sports, was designed to benefit boys and girls’ physical and mental well being.  Youth sports are about teaching life lessons – mentoring our children and creating experiences that will serve them well in any walk of life.  Leaning what it takes to be a good teammate teaches meaningful lessons in character development that will make a lifelong impact.  Far too often the result is more important than the journey.  When the focus is on winning, kids are chastised for a missed check or making a mistake.  Instead we need to focus on the development of each child, first as a person and then as an athlete.  This foundation requires a safe environment where kids feel confident to take risks and learn the benefits of positive reinforcement.   At the end of the day, this is an important conversation.  I think we really need to take a step back and evaluate what is happening at the youth level and what it is that we value and would like to pass on to our children.

Thank you for reading and for letting me share my thoughts with you.  I encourage you to post comments here at the Captain’s Blog.  I look forward to seeing you all back here at the Captain’s Blog next week.

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