[ad_1]
Bengt Åkerblom. Rest in peace.
The hockey player who tragically had his life shortened due to a skateboard.
The carotid artery was opened. Blood throbbed on the ice. Bengt’s life could not be saved.
The last thing Bengt Åkerblom did was play an ice hockey game for his Mora against Brynäs in the fall of 1995.
Bryn’s legend, Ove Molin, was on that ice, in the cabin next to which Bengt collapsed. He never forgets that snapshot and I remember how deep it fell when Molin with a heavy voice and a very incomprehensible tone exclaimed: “I am very surprised that today’s players do not wear neck protection in the right way. If the rail comes in the wrong place, it’s over ”on a podcast we recorded almost a year ago.
Let’s let Ove’s voice resonate these days because what we saw during the early stage of JVM is a sham.
Throat protection should be a no-brainer
The winged phrase of the author and philosopher George Santayana should be framed in the Junior Crowns dressing room and at the headquarters of the International Ice Hockey Federation: “He who does not remember history is obliged to live it again.”
“It’s irritating”, “It’s in the way”, “It’s not that nice”.
There are many excuses for players to ignore neck protection. However, they are all worded in an idiotic way.
Throat protection can save lives. Therefore, such equipment should be as essential in a hockey player’s trunk as the stick or helmet.
An error, a collision or a millisecond of ignorance and nightmare can be a fact.
Throat protection should be a no-brainer. The house cat is a no-brainer.
For all.
Except the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Junior crowns can be role models
It is difficult to understand how a partnership with 70 member states can miss such a vital point in regulations. That paragraph must be written by yourself.
Swedish ice hockey has spoken out in favor of the use of neck protection during the season and some may think it has been exaggerated when players are fined right and left for improper use of equipment, but the signal value exceeds thoughts driven by emotions. The Swedish Confederation has clarified the problem. The same can be said of the International Federation.
Now, no rule changes are expected amid a burning championship, but we can hope that the votes will rise enough on the issue for the International Ice Hockey Federation to revise its rule book and enact a new one. section for neck protection requirement in international competitions.
For starters, at this specific JVM, Sweden can, from a symbolic position, wear neck protection for the remainder of the tournament.
Junior crowns have the opportunity to set an example. Be a role model.
But above all, they must wear neck protectors to protect themselves.
Because there are more important things in life than ice hockey.
Like life itself.
