Tackling is a term often used in ice hockey, and it refers to the act of obstructing a player on the opposing team. The term itself sounds harmless, but it encompasses a variety of defensive techniques, many of which involve body contact. Due to the nature of the game, which involves skating on ice at high speeds, players' heads are often vulnerable to tackles, and especially tackles to the head. This is when serious injuries can occur, despite the protective equipment that players wear.
These types of collisions can lead to concussions, which are defined as mild traumatic brain injury involving rapid and sudden movements of the head and brain. The consequences can range from minor – with mild symptoms such as headaches – to major – which can include hospitalization with long-term or even permanent symptoms. Even minor head injuries have been shown to increase over time, resulting in cumulative damage to the brain, which can cause long-term neurological symptoms including memory loss.
The price that hockey players pay
Ice hockey is a sport loved by millions around the world. The fast pace of the game and its competitive nature, which includes the fierce clashes, make it a very entertaining sport. Players are also training harder than ever, getting bigger and stronger, and this has the side effect of creating bigger and heavier clashes, which leads to more serious injuries.
However, player protection has struggled to keep up. Protective equipment, such as helmets, is not sufficient to prevent the long-term damage that concussions can cause. Over the years, the number of players ending their careers early due to concussions has increased, and until now, there has been no suitable treatment for concussions. This has led to an increased focus on the issue of player safety.
SHL provides PolarCap at all arenas
Proof that this comes from one of the best ice hockey leagues in the world, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The SHL has worked to modify the rules of the game in order to try to discourage players from performing very aggressive forms of tackling to the head.
The league recently signed an important agreement with the Lund-based medtech company PolarCoolThe company focuses on the treatment of injuries caused by concussions and mild concussions (eng: sub-concussive brain injury) with the PolarCap System portable cooling device.
Through the agreement, PolarCap since the beginning of last season has been provided at a total of 14 SHL arenas, including Malmö Arena, home ground of IF Malmö RedhawksRead more about the agreement here.
Redhawks defender comments
BioStock contacted IF Malmö Redhawks defenseman and Olympian Markus Lauridsen to get his perspective on the SHL's positive direction in handling concussions and his thoughts on PolarCools cooling device.
Markus, considering your career as a pro ice hockey player and as an Olympian, what has been your experience with concussions?
- Well, I've had my bell rung a couple of times, but never suffered severe concussion symptoms myself, thankfully. But I've played with others who have had to end their careers due to concussions.
- So of course, I have it in the back of my mind - what if it happens to me? But while I play, I'm so focused on the game that I don't really think about it. Having said that, I try to be aware at all times.
In recent years many players have suffered long-term consequences due to concussions, and many players have had to retire early due to this type of injury. What are your thoughts on this?
- As I mentioned, I have witnessed it first hand and I feel sorry for these players. You can get unlucky – it doesn't have to be a dirty hit; all it takes is a series of minor hits that can end your career. The thing is that when you are so passionate about this sport, and because, in part, of the culture within ice hockey that pressures you to tough it out every time you take a hit, you don't realize how much these injuries can impact you in the long run, so you keep on playing, thinking everything will be ok.
- I obviously see Ice hockey as the best sport in the world, and it's sad to see concussions being such a big part of this sport. I wish you could get to a point where you wouldn't have to worry about this type of injury, and we've certainly come a long way in that direction.
The awareness around concussions and its wide range of consequences has been raised in recent years. Is it your feeling that concussions are taken more seriously nowadays?
- We recently had a meeting with player safety, and over the past 4-5 years, concussions have gone down thanks to rule changes implemented by the league, so I definitely think that concussions are taken more seriously now. It feels like we're learning, and this is in large part due to the awareness raised over the past few years, and I appreciate the efforts made by PolarCool, not only to offer a treatment for concussions, but also for raising awareness around this topic.
As a player, what are your thoughts on the fact that PolarCap is provided to you and your teammates in Malmö and also available at all SHL arenas?
- I think it's great! From what we've learned about PolarCap, in my opinion, it's a must have and use in any situation where someone gets a hit to the head. Even if the sustained injury doesn't have a concussion, it can't hurt to wear PolarCap, and in fact it might be preventing long-term symptoms, so it's definitely great to have.
What's your take on the league's work to improve players' safety regarding concussions, implementing technologies like PolarCap and others?
– I'm definitely happy with the league's work to improve player safety, and the implementation of PolarCap is certainly a huge part of that.
Finally, considering the agreement made by the SHL to make PolarCap available at every SHL arena, do you feel more optimistic about not only your career as a pro hockey player but also about future generations that want to get into this sport?
- I do for sure; I think it's a great step in the right direction. It's still a good idea to keep talking about PolarCap and the long-term effects of concussions so that we keep seeing progress, and with the steps taken by the league so far, I'm confident that progress will continue to be made.