Paul Kariya gets Crunched

After suffering numerous hits in the NHL, Paul Kariya was forced to retire following the 2010-2011 with post-concussion symptoms. Kariya retired after 15 seasons in the NHL as a point per game player. While Kariya has accomplished great things as an undersized hockey player, he will always be remembered for the injuries he suffered during his career. Kariya suffered numerous concussions in his career; as well as, two brain injuries from 1996 to 1998 from dirty hits.

Kariya was selected third overall by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, during the 1993 NHL Draft. He scored more than 50 goals during the 1995-1996 season, and scored more than 40 on two other occasions. Kariya will always be remembered as the captain of the Ducks and the face of that franchise for over nine seasons.

A player that dazzled many with his natural talent and faster than light speed, Kariya registered 989 points in 989 NHL games. All the speed in the world couldn’t prevent Kariya from connecting with Scott Stevens during the 2002-2003 Stanley Cup Finals. Kariya was flattened by Stevens in open ice, leading him to lay on the ice motionless for several minutes before being assisted off by the training and coaching staff. After leaving Anaheim to play for Colorado, St. Louis, and Nashville Kariya’s career was never the same. While Kariya is finally symptom free after 15 years in the NHL, he is still a strong advocate for concussion awareness. Kariya believes that players suffering concussions should re-habilitate themselves fully before returning to the ice. A player with amazing skill, and blazing speed was never the same after suffering this injury, showing readers how serious concussions can be.

 

 

Scott Stevens- Concussion Causer

After a career of successfully dealing concussions to his opponents, Scott Stevens was forced to retire after suffering post-concussion syndrome. Stevens was hit in the head by a puck during the 2003 NHL playoffs, en route to his third Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils. Scott Stevens’ impact on the NHL can simply be defined by his ability to destroy opponents through bone rattling hits (just ask Paul Kariya or Eric Lindros). To the surprise of few, Stevens originally wanted to become a football player. However, Stevens fell in love with the game of hockey which led him to becoming great NHL defensemen. Even though Stevens’ career was ended by a concussion, his impact on the game will always be for providing concussions.

During the 1999-2000 Eastern Conference Final series with the Philadelphia Flyers, Stevens would send Eric Lindros to the doctor with a levelling hit. Lindros was never the same after suffering this hit, leading to his decline. Although this hit was clean; it was a reminder to many, that any player was one hit away from being concussed at the hands of Scott Stevens (or should I say shoulder).

Controversy struck Stevens once again during the 2002-2003 Stanley Cup Finals series with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Stevens would destroy Paul Kariya with a menacing hit that would knock him out cold. However, Kariya would return and finish the game leaving Stevens unpunished for what could be viewed as a dirty hit. Even though Kariya finished the game, similar to Lindros his career was never the same after being hit by Stevens.