(1.) We understand you just returned from Quebec where you coached the pee wee team representing the New York Rangers at the International Pee Wee Tournament. What is the most important thing you try to teach your youth players, as a coach and a mentor?

I think the biggest thing is to make sure the kids are really enjoying themselves.  Hockey is such a fun game to play.  I think sometimes we bog the game down with too much coaching from a technical point of view.  Youth hockey coaches should be judged on how many smiles they see at practice, and by how many of the kids on their team re-enroll the next year.  By professionalizing our game too early, we run the risk of taking the sheer enjoyment out of the game — which often leads to kids leaving our game at a young age.  Hockey, like all other sports for kids, is for the mental, emotional, and physical well being of our children.  It is our job as coaches and mentors to make having fun and developing a player’s character a priority.  No matter what level you reach in hockey, there are incredible lessons to be learned that will apply to all walks of life and there are experiences to cherish for a lifetime.

While I cringe sometimes when I consider all the travel players and parents are expected to endure for youth hockey — not only for the expense, but more importantly detracting from family time and often even dividing families, I feel the Quebec tournament offers a very special experience for 12 year old players.  While the hockey is tremendous with representation from countries all over the world, the kids often come home with their fondest memories around their on and off-ice experience, including pin trading and experiencing the culture of Quebec. So many volunteers were required to pull off this event.  Quebec has been hosting this tournament for 51 years and the entire township is involved.

For our final game, there were over 10,000 fans cheering on all the players. When our boys lost, it was extremely disappointing, however they learned to respect those that worked so hard to make their time special — they skated around the Colisee and saluted those fans/volunteers to say thank you.  These are the lessons we can teach our children through the great game of hockey.  As parents, coaches, and mentors we must remember to let the kids have fun and enjoy everything hockey has to offer.

(2.) The Messier Project just launched a new small size M11 helmet to help reach the youth market. At the tournament in Quebec, the Pee Wee Rangers, the Tri-State Selects and the Semiahmoo Ravens all wore the M11. What did it mean to you to see these youth players take to the ice in the helmet you helped create? And what was your message about helmet choice and safety to the youth players, parents and coaches at the Pee Wee Tournament and to players, parents and coaches across North America?

It is very gratifying to see players of all ages and level’s wearing the M11 for many reasons.  I really feel good about the message that we have delivered to our players, coaches, parents and I believe the hockey community has really embraced the mission to change priorities in our sport — to make head protection a top priority.  For the first time in many years, I believe they have a choice to protect themselves better.  I really believe the hockey community is committed to finding real solutions to the problem that concussions have caused in our sport — and it all begins with conversation.  With the support and feedback we have received, it is evident that the conversation and the exploration of potential solutions was a welcome change and has created a sigh of relief.  Once the conversation has started, solutions can follow.  We still have a tremendous amount of work to do, but we are more determined than ever after receiving such positive feedback from the hockey community.

(3) Transitioning from Pee Wee hockey to Olympic hockey, you are soon heading to Vancouver on behalf of Team Canada.  All of Canada was stunned by Team U.S.A.’s win on Sunday night.  What were your thoughts on the game?  What does Team Canada need to do to regroup?  Expectations and anticipation for Olympic gold medal in ice hockey on home soil is so huge in Canada right now.

I thought the game between Canada and the US was just awesome.  The speed and skill that was displayed in this game was second only to the will and determination of every player on the ice.  This game was a reminder to every hockey fan about just how far the US and the other countries’ hockey programs have come in the last 10 years or more.  International hockey has remained so popular and interesting because of the competitiveness and the rivalries that exist between the countries.  For fans and players alike, the thrill of competing for your country brings special significance and tremendous energy to the games.

At the start of these Olympics, I felt that six teams had a real chance of winning the Gold medal.  Russia and Canada, the two favorites going in to the tournament find themselves playing each other in the quarter finals, just to advance.  As a fan of the game, I find myself anticipating the start of all the games.  With so many teams with a legitimate chance of winning, the drama continues to rise as the tournament progresses.  I don’t know who will emerge with the gold medal, however I do know that hockey fans around the world are being treated to some of the best hockey ever played.  Enjoy!

I hope you are enjoying the Olympics and the excitement each sport offers!  I am off to Vancouver to see the Women’s final game, the Men’s semi-final and final games in hockey.  I hope to see a little of the Bobsleigh, since I had the pleasure of working with the team this summer.  

Last week here at The Captain’s Blog, I shared with you a letter from David Bartholomay of Minnesota who wrote to me about his son’s positive experience wearing the M11 helmet.

Since then, I have received many more letters and comments and I wanted to share two in particular with you this week – one from Coach Jason D. Power of O’Fallon High School in Illinois and one from Serena A. Spencer of Beverly Hills, California.

I appreciate all of these letters and I am honored that The Messier Project has inspired such a meaningful conversation – beginning the conversation is a start to determining solutions.  We need all the stakeholders working together to address the issue of concussion in hockey.

Jason D. Power of Illinois, Head Coach of O’Fallon High School Hockey, wrote to me about his team and how he is a strong believer in our product.  He switched his entire team over to Cascade helmets two years ago and now O’Fallon High School would like to be included as a member of The Messier Project.

Jason writes:  “Two years ago, when first introduced to Cascade’s product, I switched my entire program over to your lids. I have had multiple injuries to my players since then, all however came out fine thanks to your buckets! I sadly, have had two players run from behind this season and taken to the Children’s Hospital here in St. Louis… both times the head neurologist praised the helmets they were wearing with saving their lives. I am die hard believer in your product, and our association will continue to only use Cascade helmets!”

Jason – as I wrote to David last week, I would like to say thank you for writing in and sharing with us your team’s story.  I am relieved to hear that your players were not seriously injured after being hit from behind and that you feel Cascade’s Seven Technology helped protect your players during these hits.  It is great to have you and O’Fallon High School on The Messier Project team, and it is clear your team is providing leadership in terms of changing priorities within our sport.  Best of luck for the rest of the season!

Serena A. Spencer of Beverly Hills, California, also wrote to me this week.  She is a new hockey fan and has become very concerned about the concussion issue in the sport.

Serena writes:  “I cringe every time I see how quickly the helmets come flying off with a hard hit or fight.  When I’m watching the (Kings) game on FSW, I’ve seen the concussion issue come up briefly in commentary, but then it sort of gets blown off.  I don’t actually know enough about hockey or the rules (love the game & am reading books…), but this seems too important to not be in the forefront – especially now that the games are getting more and more physical the closer we get to playoffs.  What can people do to support your mission?”

Serena – first, thank you for your letter.  I understand your concern over the issue of concussion in hockey, especially as a new fan of our great sport.

– Mark Messier

I received an email from David Bartholomay of Circle Pines, Minnesota last week and wanted to share it with you.

“My son is a B1 Bantam playing very rough and competitive hockey. At a tournament this weekend he sustained a hit to the head that, I believe, would have normally resulted in a concussion. But since we had purchased a M11 a couple weeks ago with this concern in mind, he was able to walk away with only his ‘bell getting rung’.

I realize I can’t medically claim that the helmet saved my son from getting a concussion, but I feel so fortunate that he was wearing your new helmet and that he was able to ‘walk away’ from what could have been a terrible situation.

Thanks so much for everything you are doing!!

Dave Bartholomay

Circle Pines, Minnesota

P.S. How can one tell if an M11 should be replaced after a strong hit?  I know that is an issue with ‘regular’ helmets, but I can’t see any damage to the helmet itself.”

I wanted to respond to David here, via The Captain’s Blog:

“First, David, I would like to say thank you for writing in and sharing with us you and your son’s story and for joining The Messier Project team in choosing the M11.  It is stories like yours that inspire me and the rest of the team here at Cascade Sports and I thank you for taking the time to reach out to us.

I am so glad to hear that your son was not seriously injured after the hit to the head he sustained and that you are pleased with the protection and performance of the M11.

Concussion awareness – including understanding the symptoms and removing the player from the game, medical attention and safe return-to-play protocol – are the most important steps in addressing concussion and I commend you, your son’s team, coaches and officials for acting quickly.

As you’ve likely read, Seven Technology’s ground-breaking impact attenuation system is designed to more effectively manage and reduce energy transferred to the brain from direct impact.  On impact, Seven Technology compresses to laterally displace energy and within seconds, completely resets to ready for the next impact.  Hockey is a multiple impact sport and with Seven Technology’s “total material reset,” it represents the sport’s first true “multiple impact technology” and that is why Seven Technology is so relevant – and so important – to hockey.

With Seven Technology, the M11’s new ProFit system and Mono90 Shell Design, we are working to create a new era of head protection in hockey.  And your note to us is extremely encouraging as it provides critical empirical evidence that we are moving in the right direction.

Regarding your question about when and if you should replace your M11 (or any other helmet) after a hard hit, I asked Bill Brine, the CEO of Cascade Sports and a true leader in helmet innovation, for some tips.  Bill gave me some information that is based on good, common sense:  If anything with your helmet looks or feels wrong, you should not use it.  You should visually inspect the helmet and read the warning label.  Do not use any helmet if you find cracks, loose or broken fasteners, torn, displaced or missing padding, or size adjusters or straps that are broken, no longer work or are loose.  Also, ensure your helmet is certified by (CSA and/or HECC) and that the certification is still valid.  Cascade Sports stands behind its product, therefore, if your M11 helmet does break, return it to the store where you purchased it, or send it back to Cascade Sports for a free repair or replacement.

Six months into our launch, we have heard so many stories like that of David’s son – about players sustaining big hits in the M11 and then getting up and skating away.  This is what gets the team up in the morning and keeps them up into the night- continuing to improve head protection through technology and product innovation – and it is a very exciting team to be a part of!  I’d like to personally thank David and all of our supporters out there for helping make The Messier Project a success and for believing in our mission.”

– Mark Messier