Two Minnesota high school hockey players were paralyzed last week.
Any time you check from behind, you risk paralyzing another player. Don’t ever check from behind.
Jack Jablonski, a 16 year old Minnesota high school player was paralyzed as the result of a check from behind.
The same week, a second MN hockey player named Jenna Privette dedicated a game to Jack. She was drilled from behind into the boards in a no-check girls game. She lay face down on the ice, unable to move. Jenna sustained serious injuries and has no feeling in her legs. She is 18.
The check didn’t look any different from other checks from behind. Watch the video — http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/136885053.html
Checking-from-behind is a reckless, dangerous play than happens again and again in youth hockey. Sometimes no one gets injured. Sometimes the injury is minor. Rarely and yet too often, the result is catastrophic.
Parents – tell your hockey player never to check from behind. Never. Ever. Tell them why.
Coaches – tell your players never to check from behind. Tell them why. Tell them that there will be team disciplinary action if they ever check another player from behind.
Referees – take your whistles out of your pockets and open your eyes. Enforce the rules. Call all checking from behind penalties. Never give a player a pass by calling it boarding or roughing or some other infraction.
Players – promise never to check anyone from behind.
We need to change the culture of youth hockey right now. Pledge to do you part to stop checking from behind.
