NHLPA Announces Creation of a New Committee

A historic event happened Friday night in Boston. The NHL Player’s Association (NHLPA) executive director Marty Walsh announced the formation of a Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE, Advisory Committee. This is a historical, pioneering formal recognition by the NHL ranks, regarding the dangers of CTE.

NHLPA Creates New Committee

News: #NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh announced tonight in Boston that the players’ union has formed a CTE Advisory Committee – the first formal recognition in the hockey world of the devastating disease caused by repeated blows to the head.

Story coming on @DailyFaceoff.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 2, 2024

CTE, is a disease that affects people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The NHL and NFL have been frequently been engaged in discussions around the topic of CTE due to the known dangers of head injuries. Furthermore, the news of the NHLPA forming a committee comes just days after a the NFL had their own admission. Now with the NHL acknowledging it too, this appears to be a historic few days in the effort to better protect players.

Committee Forms Months After Posthumous Diagnosis

Over the summer, former NHL player Greg Johnson was posthumously diagnosed with CTE. Johnson committed suicide by gunshot in 2019. Johnson’s family took the announcement as an opportunity to encourage change in the sports world.

“I had no idea what CTE even stood for when my dad took his life,” Carson, Johnson’s daughter, said in a statement released by the Concussion Legacy Foundation. “Now understanding that the hits he endured throughout his hockey career damaged his brain, I want all athletes to understand the risks. I want the NHL to start acknowledging it exists and do more to protect its players so other daughters don’t have to lose their fathers.”

Former NHL Players Have Been Affected by Head Injuries

Andrew Shaw, a former Stanley Cup champion, retired in 2021 due to concussions. In addition, Sidney Crosby missed many games due to his own concussion issues. Hockey is a physical game. However, while some may be able to overcome them, there former players like Johnson who can not.

Furthermore, former forward Daniel Carcillo has been vocal about his own concussion issues. Earlier this year, Carcillo talked about not even being able to go outside without sunglasses due to the brightness hurting his head as a result of his head injuries.

“If they (his kids) want to go outside on a very sunny day, and I can’t find my dark glasses to block the sun out … I would try to go outside and tough it … that would trigger a headache, and that would trigger head pressure,” Carcillo said.

Is Change on the Horizon?

We can only hope this announcement is the first domino that falls in making the sport safer. Yes, hockey is physical by nature. Physicality leads to hits and head injuries. However, now that the connection between the sport and CTE is now being acknowledged, perhaps solutions to make players safer can be found. Finally, this sounds like groundbreaking steps in the NHLPA’s journey to get the players concern’s acknowledged.

Main Photo Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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