You might be familiar with the TV show “The Handlers”, where an elite team of professional basketball handlers rush the court to catch and corral shots for their clients. But did you know that a similar sport with similar athletes exists in hockey? Hockey is a dangerous game because of all the moving parts and unpredictable nature of the sport. There is a reason why hockey is sometimes called “The Art of Hitting”, and “The Hardest Game In The World”, and it’s not just the occasional fights that break out between the players. It’s the constant threat of injury that the game poses. Here is some key information about why hockey is dangerous, and how to keep your cool:
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How Dangerous Is Hockey?
Hockey is a very dangerous game. According to research conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2005 and 2007, there were 2.85 injuries per hour of play, and 1.68 injuries per hour of play, during NHL games. That’s an average of 5.44 injuries per game. For comparison, the CDC reports there were 0.73 injuries per hour of play, and 0.43 injuries per hour of play, in NCAA college basketball during the same period. If you want to be the best, you have to be willing to put your health at risk. The good news is, these injuries are generally minor. In the case of the NBA, only 10% of the injuries were serious, and 4% were life-threatening. For the NHL, the corresponding figures were 3% and 1%. Still, it’s a lot more dangerous than you think. In the case of the NHL, the injury rate was highest in the Eastern Conference, and lowest in the West. And the younger the player, the higher the injury rate. This makes sense considering hockey is essentially a sport for kids, and kids are always more likely to get hurt.
What Is The Overall Injury Rate In Hockey?
The overall injury rate in hockey is high, but it’s not as high as you might think. One of the reasons why there are so many injuries is because there is so much physical contact in the game. The research team I mentioned above determined the overall injury rate in hockey based on the 2007 NHL regular season. During that time, there were 2,409 injuries, of which 54% were caused by checking hits, 23% were caused by stick penalties, 12% were caused by fights, and 9% were due to other causes. So, while checking hits and stick penalties aren’t the best, they don’t pose the same level of injury threat as other parts of the game. Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately determine how many injuries are caused by fighting or diving, since the NHL doesn’t track this information. Still, if you want to reduce your risk of injury in hockey, you need to be careful not to hit or spear your opponents. Also, make sure that your stick is not too far behind you when you are checking, as this increases the risk of injury.
How Common Are Concussions In Hockey?
You might have heard of former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood’s experience with concussions. In 2006, he had to be removed from the ice after suffering a concussion during a game against the Nashville Predators. The thing is, even though concussions are quite rare in hockey, they are quite common in other sports. For example, in the NBA, there were 33 diagnosed concussions and 37 “potential” concussions last year. To give you some idea of how rare these injuries are in hockey, consider this fact: In the entire history of the NHL, only 87 players have ever suffered a concussion. So, while it’s always a risk to play the game, it’s certainly not something to worry about. In terms of long-term effects, a concussed player is four times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and three times more likely to develop dementia.
How Is Recovery In Hockey?
When a player is injured in hockey, it is quite common for them to miss some time due to recovery. You would think that since hockey is a contact sport, it would be easy for the body to heal. But, as we’ve seen, that’s not always the case. In fact, during the 2007-2008 NHL season, there were 2,409 players who missed at least one game due to injury. That’s quite the toll the game takes on the body, and it’s also quite a number. Looking at the numbers, you would think that there would be fewer injuries in hockey since so many players are restricted by rules from taking certain hits or getting hit by certain players. But, as we’ve seen, this is far from the truth. Still, since hockey is a non-contact sport, it does afford players the ability to return to the game more quickly than other athletes. And this might be one of the reasons why hockey teams tend to stay competitive throughout the year, while others may see a decline once their star players are sidelined.
What Is The Living Will In Hockey?
You might be familiar with the living will in medical terms. This is a patient’s authorization to make decisions regarding their end-of-life care. In the case of hockey, this is particularly important because the game often ends up determining a player’s financial future. Sometimes, when a player is injured or terminally ill, their team will contact the player’s family to see if they are willing to take the player under their wing and pay for all of their medical expenses. In other cases, the team will try to find a medical research organization that will pay for the medical expenses of the player. In either case, it is quite important that the player maintains the right to decide what happens to them at the end of their life. Still, this doesn’t give them the right to play through injuries. There is a difference between being a fighter and trying to protect yourself, and it’s an important one. If you are protecting yourself for the sake of the game, as a last resort, you have the right to check with an outside doctor or health professional if you are not sure what position to take.