Dr. Nowinski demands that NHL change its’shocking concussion protocol

An Alex Ovechkin hit to Jean-Gabriel Pageau, New York Islanders forward, caught the eye of a brain injury specialist who was stunned to see Pageau back in action.

Pageau, who had just scored a penalty midway through the period, chased the puck to the left corner. He wound up there and took a slapshot to clear the puck. Following him to the corner out of his sightline, however, was Ovechkin, who delivered a crushing hit to Pageau, contacting his head — which then struck the glass as Pageau completed his follow-through. As the Islanders’ own website described the play in their 4-3 loss to Washington, “a hit by Alex Ovechkin chased Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the dressing room…and the Caps scored twice in a 3:07 span before Pageau could rejoin the game.”

Pageau, who was not penalized for the hit, was visibly unable stand afterward, and was writhing in distress. Noah Dobson was also there to assist.

According to leading brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) specialist Dr. Chris Nowinski, the founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Pageau’s response showed clear signs of brain trauma. While the injury was troubling, Nowinski was equally shocked that Pageau was cleared to return to action in the game, and called on NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to review the league’s concussion and head trauma protocols.

Ataxia is a condition described by a lack of muscle control causing clumsy and uncoordinated movements, much like Pageau’s wobbly attempts to stand. Ataxia impacts balance, eye movement, and coordination, and can be a direct result of damage to the brain’s cerebellum.

When asked about Nowinski’s criticism of the hit on Pageau, an NHL spokesperson provided the following statement to Yahoo Sports.

“Over the past 25 years-plus, the League has had an unwavering commitment to enhancing player safety,” the NHL spokesperson wrote.

“That commitment has included a focus on player education; dozens of changes to the playing rules (e.g., Rule 48 – Illegal Check to the Head; adoption of hybrid icing; and stricter standards regarding hits from behind and boarding, interference, slashing and cross-checking); numerous changes to player equipment (e.g., softening of shoulder and elbow pads, mandating visor use, independent testing of helmets); and changes to the playing environment (e.g., softening of the glass, curved glass system around the benches).”

According to the spokesperson, the National Hockey League was also first professional league to create a Concussion Working Group, Concussion Evaluation and Management Protocol and a Department of Player Safety.

However, the most recent update was in 2019. commissioner Gary Bettman has openly denied and dismissed CTE and head trauma sustained in hockey are linked. Bettman’s stance on brain injuries has continued to be a concern among past players. “Gary Bettman denies that concussions are almost real,” former NHL player Chris Therien told Yahoo in 2022.

2018 the NHL was forced to pay $18.9 million to settle a class action lawsuit by more than 100 ex-NHL players who accused the NHL of “failing to better prevent head trauma or warn players of risks while promoting violent play that led to their injuries.”

Pageau is an 11-year NHL veteran with more than 600 career games, who had yet to miss a game this season, and was on pace for a career-high in points at the NHL season’s midpoint.

It’s not the first time Nowinski has called out the NHL, and it’s not the first time the NHL has refuted Nowinski and research from brain injury experts.

In 2022, 14 brain injury researchers and experts published a study that examined the relationship between hits to the head, CTE, and repeated head injuries. The study concluded that the authors had the “highest confidence in the conclusion” that repeated head injuries cause CTE.

The NHL made it clear that they will not change their stances or policies regarding brain injury based only on one scientific study.

“A single medical article does not determine our view on these issues,” Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, wrote to The Toronto Star at the time.“We rely on the consensus opinion of medical experts to guide us. Currently that consensus view does not align with the conclusions reached in the article you forwarded.”

Similar to this instance regarding Jean Gabriel Pageau, Nowinski disagreed with the NHL, condemning Daly’s stance.

“Bill Daly saying one scientific paper won’t change his view shows you that either he or the people he’s working for aren’t interested in thinking critically about this issue,” Nowinski told the Star.

While no penalty was assessed to Ovechkin in this case, the play could still be reviewed for subsequent discipline — though that appears unlikely at this point. Wednesday night will see the New York Islanders take on the Boston Bruins. No lineup or roster announcements have been made to determine Pageau’s availability for the game.

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