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Oct. 2nd, 2007 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
la_samtyrhttp://btj19.com/2005/10/
Posted on 21-10-2005
Visors in Hockeytown
Filed Under (Injuries) by Christy Hammond
Between injuries of players like Kris Draper (Detroit) and Mat Sundin (Toronto) along with The Hockey News’ survey, hockey players and visors have become a major reason for debate among players, the league, and fans alike over the past week.
The Injuries
Hockeytown has had two distinct cases where a visor would’ve really helped over the past two seasons. One incident ended captain Steve Yzerman’s 2003-2004 season in the midst of the playoffs. The other took Kris Draper out of the game and to the hospital. Both had pucks deflected into their face causing injury. While Yzerman’s injury was much more serious, neither cases were something to blow off.
Yzerman’s injury resulted in an immediate four and a half hour surgery to repair a scratched cornea and numerous fractures of the orbital bone. Here’s what Yzerman had to say after the incident:
“I have a small tear in the iris, which controls how the pupil dilates. I have some eye drops that temporarily paralyze my pupils to keep them open. It acts as a cast to let that part of the eye heal. The only uncertainty is how much my pupil will expand and contract. Down the road, I don’t know how my eye will respond in bright light…I don’t think I’m going to have any significant permanent loss of eyesight. Both eyes were 20-20. My whole life, I never had an eye injury. I don’t know if it’ll get back to 20-20 in my left eye, but I don’t think it’s going to get to a point where I can’t play.
Sitting in the hospital that night, I really wished I’d been wearing a visor. I played 21 years and never had an eye injury…My cheekbone didn’t really hurt at the time. The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I don’t want to lose my eyesight.’ I really believe guys should be wearing them. I didn’t say that a week ago.”
After getting hit in the face with a puck on Monday, Kris Draper already has his visor on. While Draper’s injury did not require surgery, he did have a lot of stitches, bruising, and retinal swelling and fluid buildup. Here’s what Draper had to say following his injury:
“I feel all right, lucky, from how it could have been. It was a freak thing. Sometimes the use of sticks, something happens and it’s accidental. This, all it was, I was backchecking and it (the puck) deflected off a stick and I never saw it coming…I know how lucky I was. It was pretty close. Talking to the doctors, they recommended it, as soon as I come back playing, I’d have to wear it anyways. It’s something that I’m going to give it a real strong effort.
It’s kind of different now. You wake up in the morning and the kids see you, and obviously it scares them, and it puts everything into perspective. This is different [regarding a previous eye injury a few years ago], it’s not just about me anymore. All of a sudden you look at your kids and they look back at you and they’re squinting and trying to find their dad behind the mask he’s wearing right now. It’s a little bit different, and puts a scare, not only in myself but my kids as well. That’s something that has hit home the last couple of days.
You have (players) like Pavel (Datsyuk) and Hank (Zetterberg), Joe Sakic and (Peter) Forsberg (all wear visors), it doesn’t seem to bother their game. There’s no reason I can’t get used to it.”
The Hockey News’ report
The Hockey News surveyed 640 hockey players in the NHL. Of that group, only 244 are wearing visors this season (38%). Before the lockout, 227 players (32%) wore visors. The average NHL team has 8.1 players wearing a visor. Colorado Avalanche leads the league with 14 players wearing visors while Chicago and Tampa Bay only have four players apiece wearing visors.
Players’ Thoughts
While playing in the Czech Republic during the lockout, Jiri Fischer was required to wear a visor.
“I got used to it, and at the end, it didn’t bother me at all. I wouldn’t mind it (wearing a visor) at all. It has its benefits, but there’s downsides to it, also. Everybody sees the pucks in the face, and getting hit around the eyes, and thinks it would prevent injuries. But if you get (hit) in the visor with a shoulder, easily it’ll smash your nose no matter what.”
Managements’ Thoughts
While head coach Mike Babcock believes that player should be able to make a personal decision in regards to wearing a visor, he also thinks that the decision should be changed once a player has kids. “When you have kids at home, you decide life would be better with my eyes than without them,” Babcock said. “Nobody plans on getting injuried. It’s an individual preference thing.”
Wings GM Holland wants to see more players wearing visors.
“I just believe it protects the players more,” he said. “The league has done a good job of keeping the sticks down (a significant source of trouble a few years ago). But nowadays, after you see what happened to Steve Yzerman, and Draper last night, and you look at Mats Sundin, the puck is just flying all over the place. I just think it (a visor) gives you a little more protection.”
My Thoughts
I understand why players don’t want to wear visors because it does affect their play to some degree. But without a visor, you’re at such a great risk to injure your eye that could cause permanent damage to prevent you from playing hockey, surgery, and it could cost you money as well for not being able to play. I personally believe that the risks totally outweigh the benefits to not wearing a visor. But then, I’m not a hockey player either.
Posted on 21-10-2005
Visors in Hockeytown
Filed Under (Injuries) by Christy Hammond
Between injuries of players like Kris Draper (Detroit) and Mat Sundin (Toronto) along with The Hockey News’ survey, hockey players and visors have become a major reason for debate among players, the league, and fans alike over the past week.
The Injuries
Hockeytown has had two distinct cases where a visor would’ve really helped over the past two seasons. One incident ended captain Steve Yzerman’s 2003-2004 season in the midst of the playoffs. The other took Kris Draper out of the game and to the hospital. Both had pucks deflected into their face causing injury. While Yzerman’s injury was much more serious, neither cases were something to blow off.
Yzerman’s injury resulted in an immediate four and a half hour surgery to repair a scratched cornea and numerous fractures of the orbital bone. Here’s what Yzerman had to say after the incident:
“I have a small tear in the iris, which controls how the pupil dilates. I have some eye drops that temporarily paralyze my pupils to keep them open. It acts as a cast to let that part of the eye heal. The only uncertainty is how much my pupil will expand and contract. Down the road, I don’t know how my eye will respond in bright light…I don’t think I’m going to have any significant permanent loss of eyesight. Both eyes were 20-20. My whole life, I never had an eye injury. I don’t know if it’ll get back to 20-20 in my left eye, but I don’t think it’s going to get to a point where I can’t play.
Sitting in the hospital that night, I really wished I’d been wearing a visor. I played 21 years and never had an eye injury…My cheekbone didn’t really hurt at the time. The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I don’t want to lose my eyesight.’ I really believe guys should be wearing them. I didn’t say that a week ago.”
After getting hit in the face with a puck on Monday, Kris Draper already has his visor on. While Draper’s injury did not require surgery, he did have a lot of stitches, bruising, and retinal swelling and fluid buildup. Here’s what Draper had to say following his injury:
“I feel all right, lucky, from how it could have been. It was a freak thing. Sometimes the use of sticks, something happens and it’s accidental. This, all it was, I was backchecking and it (the puck) deflected off a stick and I never saw it coming…I know how lucky I was. It was pretty close. Talking to the doctors, they recommended it, as soon as I come back playing, I’d have to wear it anyways. It’s something that I’m going to give it a real strong effort.
It’s kind of different now. You wake up in the morning and the kids see you, and obviously it scares them, and it puts everything into perspective. This is different [regarding a previous eye injury a few years ago], it’s not just about me anymore. All of a sudden you look at your kids and they look back at you and they’re squinting and trying to find their dad behind the mask he’s wearing right now. It’s a little bit different, and puts a scare, not only in myself but my kids as well. That’s something that has hit home the last couple of days.
You have (players) like Pavel (Datsyuk) and Hank (Zetterberg), Joe Sakic and (Peter) Forsberg (all wear visors), it doesn’t seem to bother their game. There’s no reason I can’t get used to it.”
The Hockey News’ report
The Hockey News surveyed 640 hockey players in the NHL. Of that group, only 244 are wearing visors this season (38%). Before the lockout, 227 players (32%) wore visors. The average NHL team has 8.1 players wearing a visor. Colorado Avalanche leads the league with 14 players wearing visors while Chicago and Tampa Bay only have four players apiece wearing visors.
Players’ Thoughts
While playing in the Czech Republic during the lockout, Jiri Fischer was required to wear a visor.
“I got used to it, and at the end, it didn’t bother me at all. I wouldn’t mind it (wearing a visor) at all. It has its benefits, but there’s downsides to it, also. Everybody sees the pucks in the face, and getting hit around the eyes, and thinks it would prevent injuries. But if you get (hit) in the visor with a shoulder, easily it’ll smash your nose no matter what.”
Managements’ Thoughts
While head coach Mike Babcock believes that player should be able to make a personal decision in regards to wearing a visor, he also thinks that the decision should be changed once a player has kids. “When you have kids at home, you decide life would be better with my eyes than without them,” Babcock said. “Nobody plans on getting injuried. It’s an individual preference thing.”
Wings GM Holland wants to see more players wearing visors.
“I just believe it protects the players more,” he said. “The league has done a good job of keeping the sticks down (a significant source of trouble a few years ago). But nowadays, after you see what happened to Steve Yzerman, and Draper last night, and you look at Mats Sundin, the puck is just flying all over the place. I just think it (a visor) gives you a little more protection.”
My Thoughts
I understand why players don’t want to wear visors because it does affect their play to some degree. But without a visor, you’re at such a great risk to injure your eye that could cause permanent damage to prevent you from playing hockey, surgery, and it could cost you money as well for not being able to play. I personally believe that the risks totally outweigh the benefits to not wearing a visor. But then, I’m not a hockey player either.
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