Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

NHL announces new concussion protocols

Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

Tonight, the NHL announced the implementation of new policies and procedures to expand upon the NHL/NHLPA Concussion Protocol.

The release states that it’s still an individual NHL club’s policy to identify a player who requires removal from play and evaluation for a possible concussion, the NHL and the NHLPA have reached an agreement to provide additional support to help spot players who need to be checked.

A new staff of ‘Central League Spotters’ will watch all games from the Player Safety Room in New York and they will be authorized to require a player’s removal to be checked for possible concussions following direct or indirect blows to the head.

In-Arena League Spotters and on-ice officials will complement the spotters watching from afar to watch over the players’ safety.

On-ice officials have the authority to mandate the removal of a player form the game if the player continues to play after someone from New York has communicated to the team medical staff that he needs to be checked and the player continues to compete.