Evidence of meeting #3 for Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was hockey.
A video is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
A lot of people are confused about the symptoms of a concussion. A lot of people think you have to black out to have one.
My mom and I basically clarified all of the symptoms and everything you're not allowed to do, everything you're supposed to do, and some things you should look out for. We also worked with Holland Bloorview. They did a return-to-sport protocol. We tried to follow that and outlined some good things for kids to do to keep occupied and make it through their concussion.
Mr. Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.)
Thank you.
We'll be moving to the NDP and MP Cheryl Hardcastle from the Windsor area, for seven minutes.
Cheryl Hardcastle Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My first question is for Carter.
For you to return to the game now, can you describe to this committee, if you have any uncertain terms, what the terms would be? What would this game look like if you were to return?
As an Individual
I'm not really sure. I guess I wouldn't want to get run all the time.
The crease rule.... I think in the IIHF the whistle is blown any time someone on the opposing team enters the crease. I think that would have gone a long way in enabling me to play.
Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
Anne, do you want to elaborate on what Carter has said? What do you think that should look like, just knowing what a goalie has gone through and the kind of culture we have in the sport?
November 28th, 2018 / 6:20 p.m.
As an Individual
As I said in my speech, it just seemed like it was part of the culture, that they wanted to get the goalie. I really think that crease rule needs to come in.
As I said before, coaches need to be held accountable. Ultimately, in the end, they are the ones who are telling their players what to do on the ice and what they expect of them. In the case of that one coach who had the hit list, it was clear the team ran him twice. That team ended his season two times. I think coaches need to be held accountable, and they need more training in what these concussions are.
This isn't like a broken bone. It isn't as though it heals and then you're done with it. This is lifelong. We don't know what the symptoms are 20, 30 or 40 years down the road. It's being brushed over. I think coaches need to be trained.
The other important thing I haven't mentioned is how these leagues ignore you once you're done. Ever since Carter finished playing and announced his retirement, we have had no contact from anyone, emotionally or financially.
We were given a very small amount of time to submit some invoices for concussion treatment by Hockey Canada, but there was a time limit on those. We have spent thousands—and I mean thousands—of dollars in treatments for him. We've been given less than $500.
As an Individual
Everybody just basically washed their hands of us and said that they were done with us.
Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
That goes to my next question. I'll give you a little bit of a chance to think about it because I'm going to touch base with Kathy, Matthew and Ash on this question.
How are mental health needs addressed as compared to physical needs?
I'll give you a minute to think about that while they quickly respond. I have a time limit, but I'm interested in hearing your thoughts. What would the game look like?
Go ahead, Ash, if you want to start.
As an Individual
For me, it was just trial and error with a bunch of different things. It really started with medications, and then when that wasn't helping, it turned more to biofeedback, like controlling breathing. Also, social support, for me, was a key factor in trying to keep my mental health positive.
Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
Matthew, do you want to talk to me about mental health needs, or do you want to talk to me about what you think the changes to the game should look like? I just want to point out what I mean by changes to the game. I mean changes not just at the amateur level because no matter what happens, if they don't happen at the higher levels, like the NHL level that we all aspire to—like in your conversation with Don Cherry—they won't matter. A change has to happen clear across the board, so if you're going to talk about that, keep that in mind too.
Go ahead.
As an Individual
I wrote down some stuff about this, too. I also have a couple of points. I wrote down that also at the top of the league, there's....
For amateurs, you should stop games that have too many penalties or that have become too difficult for officials to safely manage. I, personally, have had experience with those games. Tempers flare, and it's not a safe environment. There should also be fewer games, allowing for more skill practices and more skating work. It makes for better skaters, and better skaters are safer skaters. Players should also have safety-specific training to keep them out of harm's way and make them aware of risky situations.
At the top level, I think that the NHL influences how a lot of kids play, like a couple of people mentioned earlier. We all want to live that dream of playing in the NHL. Ken Dryden, who was here a couple of days ago, wrote a book and has many ideas on how to slow the game down and still make it exciting to watch and play. I also think that NHL players should keep in mind that there are a lot of kids out there who look up to them as role models, and they should watch how they play.
Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
Thank you.
I'll go back to the Phairs now. Carter, I don't know if you want to speak, or if you want to let Anne go first.
Windsor—Tecumseh, NDP
Okay. That's always a good answer.
Go ahead, Anne.
As an Individual
As far as the mental health end goes, it was never addressed with Carter. We had trouble finding any doctor or anybody who could help him with anything. Being in Saskatchewan, I was on the Internet trying to find things out. I finally saw a video of a doctor down in California who spent all of his time focused on concussions and the mental health end of them. He actually treated bomb blast victims and war vets. That is how I heard about this doctor in Vancouver. Once we saw that, we immediately contacted him. He was able to alleviate almost all of Carter's symptoms.
Mr. Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.)
Thank you.
I should let the witnesses know that we do have interpretation services available in English and French.
We'll move to the Liberals now for several minutes.
Madame Fortier.
Mona Fortier Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you again, ladies and gentlemen, for your testimony. We really need to understand what you have gone through and how concussions make you experience all kinds of realities, not only at home, but also in the sports world.
Ms. Hardcastle has already asked questions that I wanted to ask, but I would like to continue to explore the subject further. Mr. Dryden mentioned the need to change the culture of sport, which you all agree with. I would like you to confirm if I've understood correctly.
In your experience, what would it take to change the rules of the game? You have offered a few ideas, but I would like us to go deeper. First, do you agree that the culture of sport needs to change? What rules or environment would need to be changed to achieve this?
Mr. Chiarotto, you may start.
As an Individual
I agree that there should be some changes to the rules. I mean, there are a lot.... I think that a lot of hockey rules should be changed, because a lot of kids are getting hurt.
I think someone can even talk more about that.
Mom, can you elaborate on some rules?
As an Individual
There's the culture, and then there's the way games can be played. I go back to the workplace analogy. People come to work just like kids come to games. Kids need to grow up into adults and be healthy, and I'm not sure that the culture is 100% focused on the health and safety of the kids. It's how to get faster and how to get more ice time. Parents like action and goals.
Ash mentioned that it becomes a very big part of your social life. You're almost on vacation with these people when you travel to tournaments, so it ties in to so many elements of an individual and a kid growing up. They're your friends, it's your family, you spend so much time with them, and there's so much money spent.
If we spent more money, time and energy on how to play the game safely, redesigning it.... My son would have benefited from parents and coaches spending more time learning respect for the game and players as individuals, so that he wouldn't have been hit. Some of the things said—
Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.
It's not just a Saturday morning event. That's what you're saying.
As an Individual
No, and some of the things said.... There are some dark sides, and there are some egos. I love the game. I think it's great. My sons have enjoyed it and really benefited from participation. I think that slowing it down and making it about plays, not about hits, and making it about learning the skills and maybe less about the speed and intensity might help.