Former Flyer center Keith Primeau, who was forced into retirement because of post-concussion syndrome, still has bouts of headaches.
Thats why he wont be playing in the Winter Classic alumni game.
Primeau has been proactive in concussion research and various international symposiums since his retirement.
He was in Toronto this week during the Hall of Fame festivities to promote a chin strap on helmets that can predict whether a player has likely suffered a concussion after a violent on-ice hit.
The device is called the Impact Indicator and retails for 200. Its manufactured here in the U.S. by Battle Sports Science.
Primeau was trying to spread the word on the device to the Canadian hockey community this week.
When Primeau was concussed in Montreal years ago, it wasnt diagnosed until two days later. This device reportedly would give the player instant notice.
NHL
To have that ability to recognize that theres been a forceful impact is invaluable, Primeau told the Globe and Mail at the symposium.
The device has a green and red light. When the light glows red, that indicates that the force of the head blow was such that there is at least a 50 percent probability factor that a concussion has occurred.
Unfortunately, Chris Circo, president of Battle Sports Science, told the paper that NHL players dont want to wear the chin straps because if it were to light up red, they would have to leave the ice.
Nevertheless, if the NHL safety committee is truly interested in attacking the issue of head shots on every front, then it would seem to make sense to consider using this device in games.
That, of course, would require more changes to the rules.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.