The National Hockey League team doctor had seen enough.
Hours earlier, he watched Chicago Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat return to the ice for Game 4 of the 2009 NHL Western Conference final, just two days after Havlat had been knocked unconscious during Game 3 by a ferocious bodycheck. In Game 4, Havlat was hit again and was forced to leave the game early.
The team doctor – one of at least 30 physicians charged with safeguarding the health of the NHL’s players – couldn’t understand why Havlat had been allowed back into the Blackhawks lineup for Game 4.
“I am once again disappointed in my colleagues in the [National Hockey League Team Physicians Society],” the doctor wrote in an email to Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, a Calgary-based member of the NHL’s Concussion Working Group. “We all sit around and talk and talk about concussion management. Then it’s the playoffs, someone suffers an obvious loss of consciousness and is back playing in less than 48 hours.
“This same Chicago player was hit hard again today and was unable to continue in the game. Another example of situational ethics. Our only job is to protect the players from harm including when the player is ‘clearing’ himself to play. We must be their advocate regardless of what the coach or general manager thinks.”
A week later, Dr. Meeuwisse forwarded the doctor’s email – after removing his identity – to Dr. Ruben Echemendia, a neuropsychologist in Pennsylvania and the co-chair of the NHL Concussion Working Group, NHL lawyer Julie Grand and Ottawa Senators doctor Mark Aubry.
“I chose to remove his name, and have not circulated to everyone on the concussion committee because it could be taken as quite inflammatory,” Dr. Meeuwisse wrote in his May 31, 2009, email. “However, I think he is verbalizing what many people think, so I thought I should pass along the sentiment.”
Grand forwarded the email the same day to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. There is no record of a response from Daly in the documents.
When Kerry Fraser critizied the league:
Quote:
The NHL fined but did not suspend New York Rangers player Derek Stepan for elbowing Mike Green, then of the Washington Capitals, during a game. Days later, former NHL referee Kerry Fraser appeared on TSN and criticized the league’s discipline.
Fraser sent an email to a group of 39 medical researchers on March 1, 2011, including Dr. Echemendia. Fraser included a link to a video of the incident on TSN’s website.
“You will see the hit and then you can judge as to whether a ‘fine’ was warranted? You make the call,” Fraser wrote.
Dr. Echemendia forwarded Fraser’s email to Grand and Daly.
“FYI see below the kinds of emails that Kerry Fraser is circulating,” Dr. Echemendia wrote.
Daly forwarded the email string to commissioner Gary Bettman.
“I’m not sure there is anything we can or should be doing, but I wanted you to be aware,” Daly wrote.
“Are we still paying him anything?” Bettman asked in reply.
“Yes, his severance,” Daly answered. “But I’m not sure we can stop paying him for expressing views critical of the League.”
“It wouldn’t be nice but maybe he should understand it’s not nice to bite the hand that feeds you,” Bettman wrote. “Please have someone check to see if there are any grounds to withhold. Don’t want to hurt him – maybe just get his attention. This campaign, his book – somewhat delusional.”
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Yup, very much in line with what I had imagined. I'm guessing there is a "don't bite the hand that feeds you" clause written into Rogers's rights deal as well.
And in the states, for broadcasting rights that would be far more expensive and far more valuable, NFL commentators call spades spades and lambaste poor officiating performances. At least it gives the fans some semblance of accountability if a national broadcaster embarrasses a reffing crew in front of a national audience. This league has a slimy feel to it. Not a good image.
Some of the released emails disclosed describe the behind-the-scenes debate at the NHL following the death in January 2009 of Don Sanderson, a player in an Ontario men’s senior league who died after his helmet came off and he hit his head on the ice during a fight.
Weeks after Sanderson’s death, Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s director of officiating, discussed with colleagues possible rule changes to prevent other serious injuries.
Johanna Kytola, who worked in the NHL’s officiating department, emailed Walkom on Feb. 10, 2009, to ask whether a consensus had been reached on new rules regarding fighting.
“Ya love it, much to the dismay of the tree huggin, never played sport, leftist doctors… that soon won’t let us climb stairs for fear of concussion...” Walkom responded.
“Well ultimately you can never get rid of fighting... No matter what the injury risk ” Kytola wrote.
Stephen Walkom doesn't come across too smart in this particular quote.
As much as Bettman trys to rehabilitate his image as "one of the good guys", it is stuff like this that keeps coming out that will ensure that is never going to happen.
The Bronx cheers this guy gets will just keep getting louder and louder.
I used to give Bettman the benefit of doubt, but the more you read his email trains, the more you realize he's just another sociopath who made his way to the top.
More unsealed e-mails in concussion lawsuit
” Kytola wrote.
