Saulnier concussion one of many

With four games left in the 2010-11 QMJHL season, the Moncton Wildcats played the P.E.I. Rocket.

Midway through the second period, the Wildcats forward Allain Saulnier passed the puck to his twin brother Alex, but he lost the puck.

The puck went to the boards near the Wildcat bench. Alex won the race to the puck, but he lost the size battle. Paradis’ shoulder made contact with Alex’s head,
leaving him motionless on the ice. He had a concussion.

The Quebec Remparts know exactly how the Wildcats felt at that moment. Two seasons ago in a game against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, former Huskies forward Patrice Cormier threw a blindsided elbow to the head of Remparts defenceman Mikaël Tam.

The hit sent Tam into convulsions. Tam recovered quickly and returned later that season. The QMJHL suspended Cormier for the rest of the season and playoffs, effectively ending his junior career.

“It’s definitely something that needs to be taken out of the game. You hit to take a player out of the play, not the game,” said Remparts coach Patrick Roy.

The Wildcats responded to the hit. Allain went after defenceman Jimmy Oligny, and Wildcat enforcer Scott Trask fought Paradis.

Alex would eventually skate off the ice on his own.

“I just didn’t feel normal so I knew something wasn’t right and I had headaches,” said Alex.

Alex missed the playoffs due to the concussion. He said he was tempted to come back, but he did what was best for his health.

“Maybe a little bit but I tried to be honest with myself and how I felt and after a few practices I felt ready to come back.”

The Wildcats have their own rule for players with concussions. They wait until the player has no symptoms of a concussion, then they move to light workouts, then non contact practices, and finally a normal practice.

“The reasons for longer recovery are not completely understood, but are related to the amount of damage to the brain and where the brain was damaged,” said physiotherapist Colin Moore.

Avoiding a concussion, or lessening the severity of one can easily be done.
“Wear a helmet and a mouth guard can help,” said Moore.

Concussions have been on the rise in hockey. There are currently 20 players in the NHL out with a concussion or concussion like symptoms.

The Eastern Conference alone has 15 players out with a concussion. There are 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

Other injuries listed as “upper-body injuries” allow teams that don’t want to specify what the injury is for their player’s safety to use.

Alex got a game misconduct for hitting Oligny in the head in a recent home game against the P.E.I. Rocket. No suspension was given.