[Sylvanfan]

Todd Ewans NHL career went from 1986 to 1997. He had about 3.4 million in reported gross career earnings. His last 2 years account for nearly half of it. A good living, but when he got into the league he's making a touch over 6 figures. Even in those days that's not an extravagant amount of money.

The notion that the NHL marketed a violent game with the promise of a huge fortune to huge audiences when he was a kid....I am a skeptic on that. Sure the league culture was that way, and for any bigger kid the mantra that you need to fight was true.

But I believe that fame and popularity at lower ranks for may have been as much of a draw especially for a teen ager. I lived in Junior Hockey cities in the 90's....in some cases the team goon was as popular with fans as any other player. Junior teams no doubt relied on the big Friday night fight to get butts in the seats. These teams actively recruited bigger tougher kids solely to fill that role.

Today I don't know if that's sold in Junior hockey the same way it was in those days. I don't really follow Junior Hockey that way anymore. I don't think it is with some of the rules the OHL has plus the NHL is also moving away from the fighting and big hits too.

In 1982 when Todd "The Animal" Ewan is collecting 250 pins in junior did the same research and knowledge on concussions and CTE exist? I don't think so. Each passing year more is learned on the subject. The NHL certainly is more aware today than they were. When defending themselves, like any legal case they likely sought someone to present an angle that suits their interest. The statement at the time may have been that doctors belief even if the belief was half hearted.