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Texas A&M A Note from Jimmy Summers

Vice President of the Intercollegiate Hockey League, Coach of the Texas A&M Ice Hockey Team, and Division III Western Region Coordinator for the American Collegiate Hockey Association

In the league I have placed a emphasis on control and responsibility for one's actions on and off the ice, and the development of skills. Physical and skilled hockey is great and our games, like most college hockey games, are checking games, played by NCAA rules, but you can play a physical game and still have a highly skilled one too. I emphasize to my team and stress to others in the league that we want skilled hockey games that are played well. I want games that are enjoyable for players and fans, and want the players to be able to continue to play for many years to come without severe injuries.

I have talked to many hockey players who have played in college and at the semi-pro level, and they think my idea and direction is a good one. The amount of support for this idea that I have received is wonderful. I am hoping to be an instigator of change in the sport to show that it can be played well, with a emphasis on skills development, and be exciting without resorting to violence or cheap shots. That may be a lofty goal, but I hope to be part of making it happen.

Jimmy Summers may be reached at jsummers@cns.tstc.edu.

The Physician and Sportsmedicine

Fatalities and Catastrophic Injuries in High School and College Sports, 1982-1997

Lessons for Improving Safety

Robert C. Cantu, MD; Frederick O. Mueller, Ph.D.

THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 27 - NO. 8 - AUGUST 1999

Ice hockey. The absolute number of ice hockey injuries is low, but the fatality and catastrophic injury rates per 100,000 participants are higher than in many other sports. Catastrophic injuries in ice hockey usually occur when an athlete is struck from behind or falls and hits the crown of his or her head on the boards, resulting in fractured cervical vertebrae and paralysis.

Tator et al (5), who did an extensive survey on catastrophic injuries in Canadian ice hockey, recommended the following:

Enforce current rules and consider new rules against pushing or checking from behind;
Develop conditioning programs to help players strengthen their neck muscles;
Teach players about the risk of neck injury; and
Continue epidemiologic research.

American Hockey Coaches Association Code of Conduct

Introduction

While those who consider themselves part of the hockey community embrace The Game, hockey is a minority sport, particularly college hockey within the world of college athletics. This increases the importance of a sense of community among those who play, coach, work, and follow college hockey.

To establish and maintain a sense of community, we can not ignore the way the game itself is played. The stability of our hockey community is based on how everyone within the community carries out his or her responsibilities related to The Game.

Safehockey.com is an information clearinghouse for those who love hockey and want to make it a safer sport.

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