Hockey is a fast, exciting, and sometimes violent game. As in all sports, some risk is involved. But as hockey continues its tremendous popularity in Canada, and as that popularity increases in this country, the number of boys and men participating grows constantly. Thoughtful critics naturally will inspect the game, seeking ways of reducing all risk to a minimum.
And that risk is not minimal now. Last year a professional hockey player died from head injuries sustained in a game. Since then at least two Canadian boys have died after head injuries.1
The boys, both 16 years old, were injured during game play, and both wore "protective" helmets. Yet one struck his head on the ice and suffered several contusions of the cerebral cortex and hemorrhages into the brain stem. The second player was struck on the temple by a hockey stick; he had a depressed fracture with underlying