Hockey Capsules: Concussion debate highlights world hockey summit
TORONTO (AP) — One of hockey's top doctors warns of the danger of players returning too soon from head injuries.
Dr. Mark Aubry, the chief medical officer of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said recent studies and reports on the severity of concussions have heightened awareness.
"I think it makes us stand up ... and say, 'OK, what are we doing?'" Aubry said. "When is the number of concussions too many in allowing that young player to return to play?"
Aubry spoke Tuesday on the second day of the world hockey summit. He was joined by Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and Brendan Shanahan, the NHL's vice president of hockey and business affairs.
Aubry has helped organize symposiums on concussions during his career. He said injuries have risen significantly at the peewee level when many youngsters first experience bodychecking.
"We're exposing these kids to an increased risk of injury at an age where I think we should still be talking about skill development and having fun," Aubry said. "That's where I think that hopefully things may change."
The debate on when to allow bodychecking — or whether to have it at all — was one of the livelier subjects. Coaching styles, equipment changes and player safety concerns also were discussed.
Steve Norris, a doctor who has worked with Hockey Canada the past 15 years, started the session by discussing athlete development and the behavior and growth of young players.
Bob Boughner, president of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, was not overly optimistic about immediate change.
"You'd like to hope there are some ideas that spark some thought and maybe some decision making," he said. "But for the things said today, are things going to change tomorrow? Probably not. But hopefully they'll be part of future discussions."
Among those in attendance were Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, national women's hockey coach Melody Davidson and Canadian Hockey League president David Branch.
The four-day event began Monday night at the Hockey Hall of Fame with panel discussions. On Wednesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a question-and-answer session.
Aaron Ward retires, was member of 3 Cup champions
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aaron Ward, a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams, is retiring from the NHL after 13 seasons.
Ward announced his retirement in a statement released through the NHL Players Association on Tuesday.
Ward spent most of last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2006. He was traded in March to Anaheim.
The 37-year-old Ward was also a member of Detroit's back-to-back Cup teams in 1997 and 1998. According to the NHLPA release, Ward had a third knee surgery after the season and wouldn't have been ready for the start of next year.
Predators sign Swede to 3-year, $9.25 million deal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators have signed their top goal scorer, forward Patric Hornqvist, to a three-year, $9.25 million contract.
Hornqvist, 23, is Nashville's first draft pick to score 30 goals, and he led the team with his 30 goals last season. That also marked the fourth highest total in franchise history.
Hornqvist, from Sollentuna, Sweden, tied the franchise record and tied for second in the NHL with eight game-winning goals. He led the Predators, who announced the deal on Tuesday, with 10 power-play goals and finished tied for the team lead with 51 points off a franchise-record 275 shots in the season.
A seventh-round draft pick in 2005, the 5-foot-11, 186-pound forward led Nashville skaters with a plus-18 rating.
Lightning center Lecavalier has knee surgery
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier had minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to recover in time for the start of training camp.
The club said the surgery was Tuesday in Tampa, and recovery is expected to take three to four weeks. Lecavalier played 82 games last season and had 24 goals and 46 assists. Training camp begins on Sept. 17.
Minor Leagues
Devils development teams to play in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall will be the site of five professional hockey games this season.
The New Jersey Devils announced Tuesday that two of its minor league affiliates will host the games at the Jersey shore.
The Devils' top development squad, the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League, will play in Atlantic City on Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Feb. 4 and Feb. 27.
The Trenton Devils of the Eastern Hockey League will play at the shore on Jan. 23.
Ticket prices and the on-sale date for single-game tickets will be announced in September.
The Devils will donate tickets to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families for use by children in foster care in the Atlantic City area.
Team uprights toppled Maine graves
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Police say three Lewiston residents have been arrested on charges of vandalizing a city cemetery before last weekend.
Police say 20-year-old Shane Haskell, 18-year-old Billie Coburn and Jesse Macia, who's also 18, are charged with aggravated criminal mischief and desecration of a burial site.
More than 150 graves at the Riverside Cemetery were toppled between Thursday night and Friday morning. Some damaged markers are 200 years old and weigh a half ton or more.
On Monday, dozens of players from the Lewiston Maineiacs hockey team helped repair the damage.
Nineteen-year-old player Sean Finn of Montreal said the Maineiacs wanted to do something to help the community that's accepted the team. The team's the local affiliate of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
