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Ashleigh G. Smith

Professor Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1104

February 14, 2019

Topic Proposal: How the National Hockey League Will Lead to the Downfall of the

National Hockey League

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.

Initial Inquiry Question(s)

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

in a smart manner (heads up tackling, for example)?

My Interest in this Topic

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.

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