A seemingly innocent Canadian pastime took a tragic turn for a 10-year-old Guelph boy after he was struck in the head by a puck while playing shinny on Sunday.
Nicholas Lambden died on Monday evening.
He was playing hockey at an outdoor rink at St. George’s Park when an errant puck hit him in the head behind the ear, knocking him unconscious. He wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time.
Fast acting paramedics administered live-saving CPR, and were able to revive him, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
“Nicholas touched many hearts with his passion for life, adventure and sports — especially hockey,” said his father, Andrew Lambden. “Beautiful Nick is flying with angels. We love you forever and ever.”
Guelph City councillor Bob Bell, said the tragedy highlights the need for children to wear helmets when they are on the ice.
“I think kids should wear helmets when they’re playing hockey,” Bell said. “Kids and parents need to associate helmets with skates as they associate helmets with bikes.”
The Canadian Hospitals Injury and Reporting Program last did an overall update on the kinds of injuries kids suffer playing hockey in 1998-1999. But the frequency hasn’t changed much since then.
Here’s a look at the chart, courtesy CHIRRP.
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Precipitating event and circumstances of collision/contact-based injuries in the CHIRPP database for organized minor hockey (10-17 years) in the 1998-1999 hockey season
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Breakdown Event
circumstances
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Division Count (% of total)
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Atom
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Pee Wee
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Bantam
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Midget
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Overall
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Checked into the boards (legal ?)
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32 (15.8)
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130 (27.7)
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196 (31.2)
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61 (24.3)
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419 (27.0)
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Unintentional collision with other player
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51 (25.2)
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63 (13.4)
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71 (11.3)
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32 (12.7)
|
217 (14.0)
|
|
full collision
|
39
|
46
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49
|
24
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158
|
|
other player fell on patient
|
12
|
10
|
8
|
3
|
33
|
|
knee-on-knee or leg-on-leg
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0
|
7
|
14
|
5
|
26
|
|
Body checked (legal)
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10 (5.0)
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46 (9.8)
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82 (13.0)
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39 (15.5)
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177 (11.4)
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Collided with or fell into boards (no other player involved)
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34 (16.8)
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46 (9.8)
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43 (6.8)
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20 (8.0)
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143 (9.2)
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|
Hit with hockey stick
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26 (12.9)
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24 (5.1)
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61 (9.7)
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30 (12.0)
|
141 (9.1)
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|
slash
|
10
|
7
|
25
|
10
|
52
|
|
high stick
|
7
|
3
|
12
|
7
|
29
|
|
cross check to front or side
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
|
spear
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
unspecified
|
9
|
10
|
19
|
9
|
47
|
|
unintentional
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
Hit with puck
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10 (5.0)
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51 (10.9)
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37 (5.9)
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18 (7.2)
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116 (7.5)
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Body checked – open ice (legal)
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9 (4.5)
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49 (10.4)
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42 (6.7)
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13 (5.2)
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113 (7.3)
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|
Checked from behind into boards (illegal)
|
10 (5.0)
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24 (5.1)
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36 (5.7)
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10 (4.0)
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80 (5.2)
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|
Delivering (or attempt) a body check
|
1 (0.5)
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13 (2.8)
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19 (3.0)
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9 (3.6)
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42 (2.7)
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|
during delivery
|
1
|
10
|
14
|
4
|
28
|
|
missed or partially missed attempt
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0
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
14
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Body checked – open ice (illegal)
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5 (2.5)
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3 (0.6)
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13 (2.1)
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2 (0.8)
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23 (1.5)
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|
Hit with skate blade
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4 (2.0)
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6 (1.3)
|
7 (1.1)
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6 (2.4)
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23 (1.5)
|
|
Body checked (illegal)
|
2 (1.0)
|
1 (0.2)
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12 (1.9)
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3 (1.2)
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18 (1.2)
|
|
Elbowed
|
1 (0.5)
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5 (1.1)
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5 (0.8)
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6 (2.4)
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17 (1.1)
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|
Collided with goal post
|
6 (3.0)
|
6 (1.3)
|
4 (0.6)
|
0 (0.0)
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16 (1.0)
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Unknown
|
1 (0.5)
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1 (0.2)
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1 (0.2)
|
2 (0.8)
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5 (0.3)
|
|
While sitting on player’s bench
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0 (0.0)
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1 (0.2)
|
0 (0.0)
|
0 (0.0)
|
1 (0.0)
|
|
Totals
|
202
(100.0)
|
469
(100.0)
|
629
(100.0)
|
251
(100.0)
|
1551
(100.0)
|
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Number of cases/1,000
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35.4
|
66.0
|
101.7
|
88.7
|
71.0
|
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The Hospital for Sick Children claims sports makes up 20 percent of the injuries it sees for children under 19 – and hockey is a large part of them. (Soccer, basketball, football and baseball are also in the top 5)
Among their suggestions for ensuring those numbers drop:
Mandatory helmet use and face masks. Helmets should be replaced every five years provided they’re not cracked or worn. Never alter a helmet. It’s made to be the way it is.
Get proper fitting gear (gloves, mouth guards, shoulder and elbow pads, athletic supporter etc.) and make sure kids use them every time they play.
Proper warm-ups before each game.
Adequate practice time to build up conditioning and sharpen skills.
Remove all jewellery like watches and rings, before getting on the ice.
Never let them “play” through an injury and see a doctor immediately if you suspect there’s a serious injury – even if one’s not immediately apparent.
Skate heads-up when approaching the boards to prevent neck injuries.
Make sure your kids play by the rules. They’re there for a reason.
Avoid body checking at the Pee Wee level.
Courtesy: Hospital for Sick Children
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