Hayley Wickenheiser, a Team Canada legend, assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs and emergency physician, bristled at the depiction of such incidents as «freak» occurrences.
«I don't think this is a freak thing, I think it happens quite a lot,» she said. «It's just the injuries are superficial, or the players are lucky. This isn't something that doesn't happen; it happens a lot in hockey. Sticks come up, skates come up, and the neck is very susceptible. So whatever we can do to make (neck protection) more mainstream and just part of the equipment, the better for the future of the game. It just makes sense to me.»