In his article on concussion in youth hockey,” Johnson writes that “Crosby has a lot of company in the NHL [National Hockey League], where the number of concussions doubled in the 2010/11 season,”1 citing a reference to www.nhl.com.2 This is in error.
The cited article does not say that. In fact, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is reported to have handled the question of number of concussions this season as follows: “Bettman declined to reveal any numbers regarding the number of concussions sustained this season or what percentage they have risen to.”2
Another NHL release reports: “Accidental concussions have nearly doubled this season from last season. In 2010–11, NHL Hockey Operations has determined that 26% percent of the League’s reported concussions were the result of accidents. According to the terms of the study, accidental concussions involve a hit from a teammate, a trip or fall (not caused by an opponent), being struck by a puck or an inadvertent collision with an opponent.”3 The NHL has reported that 26% of concussions for this season are accidental, 44% legal, 17% illegal, and 8% fight-related; the remaining 5% are undefined because no videos of the incidents exist.4
Johnson appears to be confused by this breakdown and the reporting of concussions by the NHL. I can find no report of the actual number of concussions for the 2010–2011 NHL season. I ask why “Bettman declined to reveal any numbers regarding the number of concussions sustained this season.”2