Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ashleigh G. Smith
UWRT 1104
Topic Proposal: How the National Hockey League Will Lead to the Downfall of the
Introduction/Overview
The topic I have chosen to write about pertains to the National Hockey League (NHL)
and the way in which they handle concussions and the players who sustain concussions. I also
plan to discuss how players continue to suffer with the aftermath of concussions, chronic
traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), once they retire from the game. In recent years, a lawsuit has
been brought against the NHL by retired players and players’ families, stating that the NHL
Board of Player Safety and the NHL Players’ Association did not adequately inform players of
the risks they would take while playing in the major leagues. Also, three NHL players died
within a four-month span during 2011 due to suicide, but the question is why suicide? All three
players were enforcers, or fighters, and were found to have CTE following their death. Why
would the NHL continue to allow fighting if they knew the dangers that fighting brought along?
I plan to read interviews done by former hockey players on how they feel about fighting
in the game. I also plan to study the players who have passed and learn about the role they played
in the game and how their job in the league could have led to their demise. I want to discuss the
lawsuit out against the NHL and the players’ association. I want to learn more about the protocol
that all teams in the league must follow when it comes to suspected concussions. I would like to
potentially interview some hockey players in order to get their opinion on fighting in the game
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and how concussions have personally affected their lives. I would really like to address how the
board of player safety decides on suspensions. I want to talk about Sidney Crosby, undoubtedly
the best player in the league right now, one of the best to ever play, and his history with
concussions. I, additionally, would like to address the magnitude of the hits these hockey players
are at the brunt of. I also think it would be important to address other disagreeable decisions the
league has made in response to the decisions made by players. Last, I will address the view point
that fighting is an important part of the game and concussions are not frequent enough to be
concerned with.
What is the NHL doing to prevent concussions? What are the protocols for concussions
in the NHL? Why is the board of player safety so lenient when it comes to head injuries? Why
do referees make less calls during the Stanley Cup championship? Should there be a minimum
suspension for giving another player a concussion? Why has nothing changed since the lawsuit
against the NHL began? Should fighting still be allowed? Should players be held responsible for
injuring another player? Does the NHL glorify fighting and enforcers? What has the NHL done
to protect its players? What length is the NHL willing to go to in order to keep people quiet? If it
is decided to keep fighting a part of the game, does the NHL begin to teach players how to fight
I’m interested in concussions in the NHL because I love the game, but I hate what the
league does to its players. We have seen what concussions can do to these players (Derek
Boogaard, Bob Probert, Rick Rypien, Wade Belak) and it seems as though no one is concerned,
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especially the NHL and the board of player safety. Also, I have a lot of friends who play hockey,
even one who plays professionally. It is hard to watch a friend play in a game for a league that
seems as though they do not care for their players. It becomes personal and sensitive when you
watch someone whom you care deeply for play a game that can change their entire life for the
better or worse. I know that the NHL recognizes the problem the league has with concussions.
However, my question is, what is the league going to do in order to decrease mental health issues
caused by CTE?
Next Steps
In order to find more research on concussions in the NHL, I will be using numerous
different sources. I really enjoy reading the articles written by professional athletes on
theplayerstribune.com, which is a website that was founded by former Major League Baseball
player Derek Jeter. I have read some really great articles written by professional hockey players
about concussions, CTE, and mental health disorders brought about by years of head injuries. I
also plan to read the unsealed depositions given by former and current players and their families
in the lawsuit against the NHL, the NHL board of player safety, and the NHL player’s
association. Additionally, the book Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard written
by John Branch is an amazing insight into the life and death of a struggling enforcer. I plan to
interview a few friends of mine about their experience with concussions and their thoughts on
head injuries. I also have a friend who plays in the NHL, and I would like to get his opinion on
the NHL board of player safety and the players’ association. The New York Times did a great
story four years ago called Punched Out: The Rise and Fall of Derek Boogaard, which not only
discusses Derek Boogaard, but many enforcers in the NHL. Additionally, when searching the
words “concussion” and “NHL” using the Atkins advanced search, there are a ton of great
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articles pertaining to the concussion issue in the NHL. There are also other words that I can use
in my search in order to get what I am looking for. I can use the words “NHL Board of Safety”,
“Sidney Crosby”, “CTE”, “NHL Lawsuit”, and other key words to get exactly what I need to
write my paper.