Philly Phantom Garrett Koltz suffers Seizure After Fight.

Last Friday night things were rocking and rolling in Philadelphia, the Manchester Monarchs were in town and the opening face off was lining up. In a heart beat the mood of the arena would change. Seconds after the puck drop two players Monarchs RW Kevin Westgarth at 6'5” and 247 lbs with 116 PIMs for the season would challenge Philly's Garrett Koltz at 6'5” and 235 lb with 54 PIMs to his record. Both instantly dropped the gloves, removed their helmets and started the ritual, a hockey “dance”. Moving to the boards near the benches and the punches started to fly. Both Westgarth and Koltz landed powerful blows, by my count three each connecting with the others head. Koltz then hits the ice, in an obvious seizure, his legs jerking in a non purposeful manor. The trainers arrive first, then docs, the seizure appears to last under a minute by the video tape and Westgarth now several shades paler looks on from the penalty box.

Linkage to the video through this New York Times blog.
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/ahl-player-suffers-seizure-after-fight/

Since his removal from the ice by stretcher Garnett Koltz was released from the hospital on Saturday after observation and closure of a facial laceration with stitches. He will face evaluation by team physicians on Monday as to his fitness to play after the All Star break.

In the weeks since Don Sanderson's death the discussion on hockey boards and blogs has flared and sputtered, it probably will again. The fact is the most hockey fans like their fights, but can we continue to look ourselves in the mirror while we pay to see these injuries occur? Three important points must be made here. The first specific to Koltz's injury, his head did not hit the ice or boards, his seizure was most likely caused by a blow to the head by a fist. Second both men removed their helmets voluntary as customary before a hockey fight, they were going to “go”. Last these are adults who know they are in dangerous business and there for assume many risks.

Hockey is an old sport, there was a time when goalies wore no masks, however a curve to sticks and wicked puck speed changed that. Remember the days of flowing locks and no helmets? Hockey has proven it can study, assess and change when proven safety issues exist. Now is the time for the Players Association to call in the neurologists, trainers and statisticians and figure out the odds of who is injured and what can be done to prevent them. To this nurses eyes for skill players a functioning chin strap is the first step. For example, last week Jack Skille of the Rockford Icehogs suffered a concussion in a game against the Chicago Wolves Here are the images of the injury.


Powderhornhockey

Please note the helmet with it's chinstrap in the usual “two fingers between strap and chin” position appears to do little to protect his head as he falls against the boards. Would Skille have been on the ice last night against Milwaukee if his chin strap had been in the snugger position advocated by the passionate orthopedist I met in Traverse City years ago? I don't know, right now no one does and that is the problem. The NHL and Players Association need to step up and go where ever the trail may lead them. The NFL is looking into Post Concussion Syndrome, equipment and play seriously, it is time for hockey to look into it's mirror too.

Sunday Morning, at Tim Hortons...life is good.

It's early on this last day of Thanksgiving weekend and being of the religious persuasion, I rose at the crack of dawn and drove to Tim Horton's for a cup of coffee and a pair of Tim Bits's 20's for the ride home. One for us and one for WK the penalty time keeper for the Wolves. The last time he had a box of Timmies the Wolves won so it has become a bit of a tradition to bring Timmies home when on the road. I tell the earnest young man behind the counter the destination of one of the boxes of Bit's and I don't think he believes me until I empty the box of the Timmies into a zip lock bag for the ride home. Then the moment comes, the XL coffee with cream and 4 Splenda is placed in my hand and it is to the table I go to enjoy what is arguably the finest and freshest cup of coffee in the world, OK, North America.

It has been four days since Kissane and I packed up the van had headed to Rochester to see the family on Wed for a weekend of turkey, family stories and not much hockey. Quite a change for us, although my niece Kristine did tell us about a league goalie she knew from Qswego State who's big mojo was to tape his stick in the nude in the locker room before games-TMI ! I did manage to catch a period of the Amerks-Manchester game on TV Thursday night. For a team that supposedly is in at the bottom they looked pretty good. Friday against Lake Erie they looked even better winning despite Karl Stewart , bless his heart getting a tripping penalty at the wrong time giving Cleveland a two man advantage. Rochester Goalie Chris Beckford -Tsu managed to stand on his head for two minutes and save the day. Something many of us can remember him doing from his time in Peoria.

My cup grows empty and I promised the family I would be back in an hour to have a last meal, pack the van and be on the road early as the weather forecast has bad tidings along the Great Lakes. With luck WK will have his box of Tim Bits at 3:00 at today's game, be nice to him and he just may give you one. Mine will be long gone by noon.

Manchester Moncharchs come to Chicago, King them!

Last night the hockey action in the Allstate Arena turned ugly. The Manchester Monarchs came to town and dominated the Chicago Wolves from the opening puck drop, winning 7:2. Scoring twice on PP and one shortie, it was obvious they had come out to play hard against a team they hoped to see later in the year, possibly the Calder Cup finals. It was not Chicago goalie Dan Turple's night to shine, Coach Don Granato pulled him at 15:04 in the second and put crowd favorite Robert Gherson in place between the pipes. It would not be his karma to escape the Manchester front line as Scott Parce and Marty Murray would drill the final two goals in under his watch.


Manchester's 5th goal was scored by a familiar face from a favorite place, Justin Azevedo. At 5'7" and 183 pounds this W. Lorne Ontario native and Kitchner Ranger (04'-08') strutted his stuff as an Atlanta invitee at the Red Wing Rookie Tournament in Traverse City in 06'. Even as a 17 year old he was aggressive in a face off and in front of the net. It was a pleasure to see him on ice again, all be it in a uniform with a Kings crest on it.


Powderhornhockey

The boys can shake off the loss with a holiday tomorrow. They board the team buss for Grand Rapids and the Griffs on Friday. No Black Friday shopping for you boys!