Patrice Cormier Injury: Another Head Shot Hospitalizes, So What's To Be Done?

While playing his third game with his new team, Patrice Cormier, the captain of Team Canada’s 2009 World Junior Team the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, came on to the ice and immediately threw an elbow on Quebec Ramparts Mikael Tam, sending him directly to the ice and then into convulsions. Click here to see it.

Just vicious, to say the least.

He had done this twice in the preliminary rounds of the WJC this year, against a Swedish player and a Finish player, with less of a dramatic result, but still there seemed to be intent to injure.

We’ve seen it in the NHL, AHL, and the junior leagues.

How this specific incident with Cormier is going to be handled has yet to be determined, but there will be a definite suspension and criminal charges may be pending.

I had the pleasure of talking with Johnny Bower this weekend on my weekly show “Get The Puck Out” on www.morencysports.com. We talked a bit about the respect players had for each other during the time he played and how it seems there is an utter lack of respect between players these days.

“This is a job and this is their workplace, there should be a mutual respect among the players and the coaches for the good of the game and their own safety," said a young hockey player with whom I was discussing the hit.   

There is no room at any level of hockey for the types of malicious acts that seem to occur more and more frequently.

Whether or not the instigator rule is leading to more of these acts may be a question.

Just past the halfway point of the NHL season, we have seen a good number of players on injury lists from many teams with concussions from head shots. The NHL general managers will and have been discussing this topic.

What is going to stop players from these acts? Is it going to be 20-game suspensions, massive fines, possibly a suspension from the league indefinitely, or a complete life time ban?

The NFL has taken a stand on hits to the head in an attempt to protect their players in an already physical game similar to hockey with high speed contact.

Accidents are inevitable but intent is unacceptable.

I am sure many leagues, including the NHL, are going to be watching the results of this incident with Cormier as it is a repeat offense. This could possibly set the bar for future malicious acts such as this.

To check out a replay of the show "Get The Puck Out" click here.