What I find even more disturbing is the over reaction to a death that was deliberate. Forcing all hockey players to wear neck guards seems a bit silly. Much like the demand that all hockey players wear helmets or face shields etc. What began as a friendly game of what we called shinny has become a game with full body armor which simply increases the recklessness of the players and the loss of respect for your opponent's humanity. Where once you tried to keep your shot low because the goalie was not wearing a mask or keeping the body checks within human tolerance because your opponent was not wearing padding or helmets has gone by the by. What once was a fun game that you needed a pair of skates a stick and a puck has become a armoured contest where the sides are out to kill each other. I quit watching NHL hockey when the game degenerated into a 'run your opponent through the boards' contest instead of a clean game of passing, checking and shooting. I watched the best game in history when the USSR team played the Montreal Canadiens. The score was tied at the end but the game was wonderful. End to end rushes clean checks wonderful shots. The Soviet players were in full body armor and the Canadiens didn't wear helmets. Players like the late Guy Lafleur speeding down the ice his long hair streaming out behind him. Wonderful game. Will never be played again.
