Koby Morrisseau

OK, I definitely have thoughts about this weekend's tournament in Everett, but that will come later.  This will probably turn into a rant to please bear with me.  This is about the game against Portland and Spokane Chiefs forward and likely-to-make-the-team rookie Koby Morriseau.  Morriseau was checked to the back of the head and into the boards by Portland Winterhawks forward Brett Clayton.  Morrisseau went down and was immediately attended to by the medical staff from Spokane and Portland as well as paramedics before being taken off the ice on a stretcher.  Probably the scariest thing to ever see on the ice. I should mention that Clayton was given a major and game misconduct for that hit and I'm sure a suspension is coming. Hopefully everything will be ok as there are reports that Morrisseau was talking and moving all of his limbs.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Koby and his family and I hope for a speedy recovery.

I seem to hear every year about how the league is taking the 'toughness' out of the game.  Every year someone says something like 'they were allowed to hit a lot harder in the old days' or 'pretty soon they won't be allowed to touch anyone anymore' or even 'I wanna see someone get lit up'.  If anyone doesn't understand why the league wants to cut back on this kind of hitting, this is it.  Morrisseau is only 15 years old (he turns 16 next month), is a likely a NHL draft pick in a few years, and as a 15 year old has his whole life ahead of him.  And it sickens me that there are so-called 'fans' that would have cheered if an opposing player went down from a hit like that and didn't get up.  I love hockey for many reasons.  The violent stuff is not one of them.  If you told me that there would absolutely be no fights this season I would still be going.  Remember, these players are just kids.  And yes, I know that there are injuries in every sport out there,  whether it be a contact sport or not.  But if the rules can be changed to help prevent serious injuries to the head and neck and protect these kids better even if it means to cut back on the hitting, then I'm for it.  Hockey will still be fun to watch.  And if you're one of the 'I'm just here to drink beer, see some fights and watch someone get crushed' then might I recommend boxing or mixed martial arts.

Anyway, sorry for the rant but I had to get that off my chest.  But I'd much rather see a player deke a defencemen out of their skates and score a goal five-hole than see a fight.  Bring on the skill and the fun stuff instead!

Thoughts on the rest of the happenings of the Everett tournament coming soon...