(1.)       Hockey has always been an important family activity for you, both when you were young and now as a father.  During this holiday season, when many families are gathering for pick-up games and playing hockey on their driveways – or if they’re lucky, on backyard ponds – can you share some of your own family hockey memories and your thoughts on the joy of playing hockey in its purest form?

My earliest memories were of playing Hockey, either outside on ice rinks, on a frozen pond, or if we were lucky enough, an indoor rink out of the wind and cold.  I was also lucky to have a father who played professional Hockey, and I can remember being able to go with him to his practices and skating before his team went on the ice.  However, I will never forget being able to go to the local outdoor corner ice rink, after school and playing shinny Hockey with my friends until dark.

(2.)       The NHL is set to celebrate a return to hockey’s roots with the upcoming Winter Classic at Fenway Park.  Can you share some of your own pond hockey and outdoor hockey memories and also your anticipation / expectations for the big game between the Flyers and the Bruins on New Year’s Day?

My entire minor Hockey was played on outdoor rinks until I was about 14.  When I had a chance to play in the outdoor game in Edmonton against the Montreal Canadians, it seemed like my Hockey career had come full circle.  There is something about playing hockey outside that invigorates the soul.  I hope that all our kids have a chance to play at least some of their minor Hockey on the outdoor rinks.

I think the game in Boston will be another great day for the game of Hockey.  The North East area of the United States has a long tradition of producing some of the game’s greatest players and continue to drive their minor league programs.  It will be a day many parents, coaches, kids, and players will remember for a long time.

(3.)       As the holiday season and the Winter Classic celebrate hockey’s deep traditions and rich history, what are your thoughts on the evolution of the game and hockey’s future?  As the New Year approaches, what are some things you’re looking forward to in the game – both on the ice and off – in 2010?

I think the NHL is as healthy as we have seen it in a long time.  We have felt the recession like every other enterprise, however, I think as a whole, we are coping very well.  I also feel that we have as many bright young talented kids in the game as we have seen in a long time.  It seems every team is boasting of a great young player.  This is good news for the NHL, as the players drive the entertainment of our game.

I am really looking forward to the Olympics in Vancouver.  The competition between Countries will be intense.  Having the games played in Canada, where we have always had so much pride in our Hockey, should make for an incredible tournament.  The game’s will be played with an extraordinary amount of talent, maybe the most in the history of our game.

As the concussion issue in hockey continues to generate more and more attention, especially after Dr. Charles Tator’s symposium in Canada last week, I wanted to take some time this week to share my thoughts on factors that need to be addressed to better protect our players, my concerns on the current state of youth hockey, and the ways I believe the entire hockey community needs to come together to address the issue of concussion in our sport.

From Dr. Tator’s symposium and the media to the NHL General Managers to the pros themselves, everybody is paying attention to the serious issue of concussion in hockey and it is very positive to see all the game’s greatest influencers working to find a solution.  I am very proud of the M11 and the mission of The Messier Project is very personal to me.  But I also recognize that this is just one part of a finding a real solution.

We need all the stakeholders to come together to really address the issue of concussion in hockey.  I think we need to take a close look at the ways the game has changed over the years and the contributing factors to the increase in concussions, starting with the size and skill level of the athlete to new equipment and our playing surface.

I believe it is a chain of events over time that has led to where we are today with respect to the current epidemic of concussion.  The evolution of equipment is a factor – protective pads are lighter and more rigid, especially shoulder and elbow pads. And when it comes to the helmet, we need to change the priorities within our sport to make head protection a top priority.  This needs to be a concerted effort on the part of all the stake holders: players, NHL, NHLPA, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, and perhaps most importantly, the manufacturers.  I also believe we need to re-examine our certification standards, as these standards were written when the goal of the hockey helmet was to prevent catastrophic injury.  While the manufacturers have addressed that issue – as helmets do prevent catastrophic injury – we now have an alarming number of concussions at all levels of the sport, so it is clear that the standards do not address the game and players’ current need for protection.

I believe the changes in the playing area have potentially contributed to rise in concussions as well.  The glass and boards have become too rigid, and what was once a normal body check is turning into a concussion.  You can imagine the impact WWE would have if they wrestled on a concrete floor.  We need to soften the playing area and examine our equipment standards.

I also believe it is up to the players to protect themselves at all times.  I see too many players leaving themselves vulnerable expecting the opposing players to turn away.  The NHL is a game that is played with high intensity; there is a great deal on the line for every player and every organization.  That intensity is part of what I feel makes our game great.  However, our players need to take responsibility as well.

To a certain extent I believe our players have lost the necessary survival instincts because the rules that were put in place to protect them have also given the players a false sense of security.  I also think it would be worthwhile to go back and examine the impact the obstruction rule has had on hits to defensemen going back to retrieve the puck and consider whether we have made them to vulnerable to forecheckers.

From a broader perspective, I think we need to evaluate each of these changes and the impact they have had on the game, with a focus on moving forward and potential opportunities to reduce risks for player injuries.

The game must evolve, yet there is a delicate balance between allowing the game to evolve and maintaining the heritage and tradition that makes hockey the greatest game of all.

Because I believe it is the greatest game of all, I have long felt a responsibility to protect the game – and its players.

The well-known John Buccigross of ESPN.com recently posted an excellent article entitled “My 13 Simple Rules for Hockey Parents Everywhere” (http://espn.go.com/nhl/notebook/_/page/buccigross_091215/my-13-simple-rules-hockey-parents-everywhere); I encourage you to read it.   This is a subject I am quite passionate about as I have become very concerned about the state of youth hockey.

If I could dispense one piece of advice to young hockey players and their parents, I would tell them not to fall into the trap of “more is better”.  The truth is more isn’t necessarily better at a young age.  We have professionalized our sport at such an early age, with the hope of giving our children the best chance to succeed.  Parents have bought into the theory that they need their kids on the ice for 12 months a year to “make it.”  Private lessons, tournaments every weekend, have and are taking a toll on our family values.

Hockey, like all youth sports, was designed to benefit boys and girls’ physical and mental well being.  Youth sports are about teaching life lessons – mentoring our children and creating experiences that will serve them well in any walk of life.  Leaning what it takes to be a good teammate teaches meaningful lessons in character development that will make a lifelong impact.  Far too often the result is more important than the journey.  When the focus is on winning, kids are chastised for a missed check or making a mistake.  Instead we need to focus on the development of each child, first as a person and then as an athlete.  This foundation requires a safe environment where kids feel confident to take risks and learn the benefits of positive reinforcement.   At the end of the day, this is an important conversation.  I think we really need to take a step back and evaluate what is happening at the youth level and what it is that we value and would like to pass on to our children.

Thank you for reading and for letting me share my thoughts with you.  I encourage you to post comments here at the Captain’s Blog.  I look forward to seeing you all back here at the Captain’s Blog next week.