The Stanley Cup is won. Las Vegas celebrated, the dust settled. But in the balance sheet that the NHL needs to put together, there’s certainly one issue that’s stayed under the radar.
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A situation the league certainly didn’t want to hear about. So what could have happened to the concussion protocol that resulted in Matthew Tkachuk coming back into the game shortly after he staggered after a hard check from Keegan Kolesar (see above)?
Matthew Tkachuk concedes a solid punch from Keegan Kolesar in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 8th. Photo Getty Images via AFP
The scene is two weeks old, but the question still arises. Because, as experts say here, no, protocol wasn’t followed in the case of the Florida Panthers’ hot-tempered player.
And this isn’t the first time the show’s magic has “disappeared” the risks associated with concussions, adds one of them.
Surprised… yes and no
Louis De Beaumont, a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher at Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal and ice hockey fan, was in his living room when he saw Tkachuk stagger during the third game.
“I was very surprised [de le revoir aussi vite]. But basically yes and no, because that often happens in the series when there is a lot at stake,” says the doctor.
“There’s no doubt he should have done the test in the darkroom.”
Tkachuk ended up visiting this famous darkroom after participating in the power play. His coach Paul Maurice confirmed it. He was declared fit to return to the game.
Matthew Tkachuk celebrates equalizing in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Photo Getty Images via AFP
Irreversible effects including death
The “hiccup” isn’t there. Rather, he did not leave immediately, as stipulated in the protocol, says Dr. De Beaumont.
An athlete who sustains a concussion is at risk of developing “second impact syndrome” if they quickly suffer another impact to the head, he explains.
And that can have serious consequences. It can intensify and prolong the effects of the concussion. In the worst case, the victim can fall into a coma and suffer irreversible brain damage that can lead to cognitive or motor impairment.
In some rare cases, the person can also die from it.
The information “lost en route”?
An athlete who staggers standing up from a check doesn’t necessarily have a brain trauma, notes Professor Philippe Fait, who sits on several international committees on concussion. But that is a “blatant sign”.
“There was no blow to the head, but a blow to the head is not necessary to get a concussion,” said Louis De Beaumont.
In 2016, the NHL introduced independent team spotters — “concussion witnesses” — who sit strategically in the stands during games.
They are responsible for notifying the club’s medical staff if an athlete may have suffered a concussion.
“Did the spotter information get lost along the way? Is that it [l’équipe] pretended not to have it? asks Mr. De Beaumont. […] We’re really in a situation where there wasn’t a gray area for me. It was necessary to send the athlete [immédiatement] in the darkroom and it wasn’t made.
Question the process.
The set of tests, dubbed “SCAT 5,” that the NHL uses in games to detect concussion is the best in the world of sports medicine, says Philippe Fait.
The result of the work of many specialized researchers, “SCAT 6” was released last week and is expected to be adopted by the League next fall.
However, in order for the athlete to be screened in this way, the protocol must still be followed. Louis De Beaumont emphasizes that this was not the case.
“If I were in the National League, I would question the process,” he says. What went wrong?”
Because “it can have serious consequences,” he repeats.