TORONTO — Rod Pasma didn’t see a lot of new options on the market for neck protection a month ago.
The NHL’s vice-president of hockey operations now has a pile of products awaiting approval after a death from a skate cut in England.
“We’re getting there,” Pasma said of what is available to players in his league. “Up to eight companies on my desk waiting to be cleared.
“And of those eight, there’s probably 12 to 14 (neck guards) to wear, should they choose.”
Pasma gave a presentation to NHL general managers at the league’s annual Toronto meeting Tuesday on cut-resistant equipment — an issue at the forefront of hockey’s safety debate following the death of Adam Johnson after his neck was contacted by a skate blade during an Elite Ice Hockey League game Oct. 28.
“When we first started this a long time ago … the options for the players weren’t as available as they needed to be,” Pasma told reporters after the session at a downtown hotel broke.
He said there are at least 10 options for wrist and base layer protection from cuts, and 12 more for socks.
“That element of cut protection has disappeared,” Pasma said of limited alternatives. “If you think something’s too hot, if you think it’s too heavy, there’s options.”
The Edmonton Oilers had a scary incident last season when forward Evander Kane‘s arm was cut badly in a game.
“Everybody saw what happened to the player over in (England), and once it’s too much,” Oilers GM Ken Holland said. “More of our players now are wearing cut-resistant things on their own.
“Certainly we’re encouraging all our players to wear cut-resistant material.”
Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said getting more technology pushed out is key.
“There’s only so many companies that make this stuff,” he said. “If you’re a business, it’s not a big market.”
Any move for mandatory neck protection would have to be collectively bargained with the players — like helmets and visors in the past — but some have taken it upon themselves to wear the new equipment following Johnson’s death.
“I think almost all players are thinking that way,” Nill said.
NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh said this week the current makeup of his membership is used to neck guards at most lower levels before entering the league.
“I don’t think it’s a mindset change,” Walsh said Monday at a Toronto sports conference. “Players have worn it forever. When we get to that point, we want to make sure, whether it’s voluntary (or not) … that the material, the equipment that’s available, actually does what it’s supposed to do so players don’t have a false sense of security.”
The NHL’s medical director, Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, also made a presentation to GMs about emergency standards in arenas.
“We’re reviewing it constantly,” he said Tuesday. “In the spring, we actually did a big education session with the doctors and trainers on major lacerations. We’re always looking at what could happen.
“And hopefully, we don’t have the bad outcome that happened a few weeks ago.”
As for the game, GMs discussed potential tweaks to 3-on-3 overtime aimed at preventing teams from leaving the offensive zone in order to maintain possession.
“We don’t want more whistles,” NHL senior vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said. “We (don’t) want more faceoffs.”
Some ideas on the table ahead of the next round of GM meetings in March include not allowing players to track back across the blue line or red line with the puck.
The introduction of a shot clock was also mentioned.
“We’re constantly trying to make the game better,” Campbell said. “I think we’ve done a pretty good job with that.”
Holland said the league will provide statistics related to OT shots on goal and changes of possession when managers reconvene in four months.
“It’s entertaining … maybe not quite as entertaining,” he said of the extra period. “The (faceoff) is really important — the opening draw — because the team that gets it seems to hang onto the puck for a while.”
“Coaches (and) players are good at finding different ways to do things,” Nill added. “We just want to make sure there’s still excitement.”
The NHL moved from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3 overtime in 2015-16 in hopes of reducing the number of shootouts.
Canucks head coach Rick Tochett said the league needs to be careful on this file.
“I watch 3-on-3 and I see (Nathan) MacKinnon, (Leon) Draisaitl and (Connor) McDavid still get their looks,” he said in Vancouver. “We get our looks. I’m not sure what you can do. Maybe you regroup it twice and blow the whistle?
“But that’s a judgment call from the refs.”
Campbell said the league is looking for teams to collect and share information and opinions.
“We told (GMs) to take it back to their coaches,” Campbell said of the OT ideas debated Tuesday. “Unintended circumstances are always considered with these things.”
-With files from Nick Wells in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2023.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
