Friday, February 22, 2013

The Legendary Jacques Plante

The innovator who dared to be different


Legendary hockey goaltender Jacques Plante was truly a unique man, a pioneer of the game. Plante broke with tradition and changed hockey forever with his most recognizable innovation (the goalie mask). He started wearing crude fiberglass prototype masks in 1956 while practicing, although not during regulation games as his coach Toe Blake was against him using a mask. It was on November 1,1959 playing against the New York Rangers when Jacques changed the game forever. After being hit in the face by a shot from Andy Bathgate, Plante made his way to the Canadiens dressing room for stitching. Upon returning to the ice after a twenty one minute delay he was wearing a crude mask and coach Toe Blake was furious. Jacques refused to play unless he was wearing the mask. Blake had no other choice without back-up goalies at that time other than to let Jacques wear the mask and agreed upon the condition that the mask was to go when the cut healed. The Canadiens went on to win the game 3-1.

It was at this time that Plante decided that these facial injuries could be prevented. Even  amongst ridicule from his peers,  Jacques refused to remove the mask and the Canadiens went on to an incredible 18 game unbeaten streak. Blake didn't seem to mind. Although, during a game against Detroit on March 8, 1960 Blake requested the mask come off and the Canadiens lost 3-0. Following that game the mask returned forever. Plante was the first goaltender to consistently wear a mask during regulation play, paving the way for goaltenders today. 

Jacques Plante retired from hockey in 1975. He moved to Switzerland while remaining active as a goaltender trainer, adviser and analyst. In 1978 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sadly in 1985 Plante was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. He later died in a Geneva hospital in February 1986 and was buried in Sierre, Switzerland.

Jacques Plante dared to be different, going against traditions to become one of the greatest innovators in the game. Through his courage and determination Plante changed hockey forever. The time for change had come and Jacques took it head on. Many of Jacques' immense contributions to hockey as an innovator and player remain today. Dare to be different.

 

Hogan Hockey has been a pioneer in the development of cut-resistant hockey products. We are particularly concerned about skate blade injuries. These types of injuries are the results of accidents and can be prevented or minimized. Since inception our products have been worn at the Pro, Junior and Collegiate levels. These elite players have given our products validation by choosing to wear them for their combined benefit of comfort as well as protection. Wearing any of our  XH SERIES ACHILLES®  cut-resistant products will help reduce the risk of these types of injuries before they happen.

 Play Smart....Protect yourself from CUTS!!
 

ZACH REDMOND TAKEN FOR SURGERY AFTER SKATE CUT

Defenceman Zach Redmond of the Winnipeg Jets underwent surgery early Thursday after yet another skate blade cut accident during a practice. Zach was rushed to a Raleigh area hospital where it took surgeons approximatley three hours to repair a laceration to his right femoral artery and vein in his mid-thigh region.

The Winnipeg rookie was accidentally cut by a teammate’s skate blade during practice. As quickly as the scene unfolded Jets players and staff rushed in to help Redmond as blood pooled onto the ice around him.

Redmond's injury will keep him out indefinitely. Media is reporting that Zach is "currently resting comfortably in recovery". This coming just over one week after Sen's defenceman Erik Karlsson's injury from a skate blade laceration to his Achilles tendon. Karlsson is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
                                                                                                
Our Achilles® XH SERIES® cut-resistant hockey products were designed to help protect the vulnerable areas. Playing hockey involves risks which may sometimes include skate blade lacerations to the exposed Achilles tendon, wrist, calf, thigh and hamstring. All of our Achilles® products have the specific benefits of safety as well as comfort. Be proactive and not reactive!

  All Hogan Hockey ACHILLES® products are cut-resistant and not cut-proof, they are intended to be worn for hockey only.


                                           Play Smart....Protect yourself from CUTS!!

Friday, February 15, 2013

A Hockey Player's Catastrophic Cut To The Wrist Area

My Son's Injury 


Hi Randy....My son Christian Black is a defenseman for the South Shore Kings in Foxboro Massachusetts. We have been looking for a while now for the Kevlar protection for him. I thought, if you needed or wanted another testimonial for your website, I would share my son's injury. It happened on Dec. 22, 2012. Unfortunately, we are in Michigan and were watching the game on Fast Hockey. In a game, my son checked a kid in the corner, and when they were both getting up and back into the play the other players skates came up and sliced his inner forearm to the bone! It was a catastrophic injury.

His arm was cut to the bone....he severed multiple ligaments and tendons as well as the artery. It was an emergency situation in that he was bleeding out! The trainers and coaches were detrimental in saving his life. He was ambulanced to Boston Medical Center, where he was stabilized. We got him home the next day and I was able to make contact with the Detroit Red Wings hand surgeon who did Mike Modano's and Darren Helm's surgeries.

 

He was operated on, on Dec. 27th. I will attach pictures of the events as they unfolded into his ongoing recovery now. I just ordered the sleeves (Wrist Guards) and the Achilles® leg protections (Goalie/Player Underwear)  from your website and noted that you have included stories of other athletes being injured. This has been a very difficult time for my son as I'm sure you can imagine. Since graduating high school in 2011, and being on teams in the NAHL and BCHL, he had found his home in the EJHL. A great coach that respects and appreciates him and thought he had a great future ahead of him...Unfortunately this was a season ending injury. Luckily he had a great surgeon and therapists now and should make a full recovery. He is also lucky that he has one more year of eligibility.

So, long story short, but I wanted you to hear it. We are hearing more and more that the game is so fast now, that these injuries are going to become more common. Case in point, Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators last night. If I had an audience of hockey parents, I would tell them to get this protection. Get them started young so it becomes part of the uni.. I am not looking for anything other than to bring attention to the devastation of these injuries and how they can hopefully be prevented by wearing any (Kevlar®) protection. My son will not be getting back on the ice in a few weeks without it.


Thank you for your time.

Julie Black

 

UPDATE : Christian's thoughts.... 

Hogan Hockey

As you can imagine this injury was a very hard season ender, that in total will take around 4 to 5 months to get back to where I was physically. Not knowing much about skate lacerations, like most, makes me want to get the word out. Wearing guards on achilles and wrists is going to be a part of my game and should be for everyone. With the speed and competition level increasing more and more, I see lacerations becoming much more common. The healing process is slow and tedious as to not rupture a repaired tendon, which could cause possible loss of movement for the rest of my life. I was lucky to have a great surgeon, physical therapists, coaches and family support system to help me get through all of this. I am more than ready to get back on the ice and train all summer for my last year of juniors. If anyone ever has questions about the process I wouldn't hesitate to help. Thank you for hearing my story and sharing it with the hockey community.

Christian Black

 

To view more of the pics sent in of Christian's laceration see ( lacerations page ) "Viewer Discretion" 

Visit us at  www.hoganhockey.com   to see what Christian will be wearing when he gets back on the ice.

 



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Be Proactive and Not Reactive

KARLSSON'S CUT!  COULD THIS FINALLY GET THE ALARM BELLS RINGING?

In our last post we had mentioned the teen High School hockey player from Methuen, Mass., who came very close to death from a skate blade laceration to his wrist. Fortunately he will be ok and we sincerely wish him all the best! These “non Pro” incidents have been going mostly unnoticed which does not help in the educational process. Last night Sens' star defenseman Erik Karlsson suffered from a lacerated Achilles tendon from a skate blade. Even with these “Pro” incidents tragic as they may be, exposure immediately spikes and quickly falls from the radar. Whereas this should be prime time for educating the hockey community regarding prevention (cut-resistant hockey innovations). So for many it still doesn't hit home, the meaningful message is being lost. The "Player cut by a skate - stuff happens - moving on" mentality has to end. The first week into the National League season two players had suffered skate blade lacerations to their thighs and more recently another skate laceration to a players' foot. Now Karlsson's unfortunate injury, "When will the alarm bells sound?"

We do not take this lightly...research has shown (see here) the most common types of hockey injuries are lacerations (27%). It should not take serious injuries like these or even worse a fatality before cut-resistant products get the attention they deserve. Accidental skate cuts occur at all levels of hockey and shouldn't go unnoticed. Over the course of the last year and a half we have had far too many calls/emails from parents looking to buy our ACHILLES® cut-resistant products after the fact that their child or someone else on the team had been cut. By misfortune these injuries have provided a spark to parents and players to educate themselves and look into cut-resistant protection....but sadly after the fact. The damage from these skate blade injuries can be serious and may lead not only to physical scars but also mental & physiological effects in the aftermath. We don't want this to be you. Hogan Hockey wants everyone protected before - not after an accidental skate cut.

Be proactive and not reactive. Wearing  these innovative cut-resistant hockey products can help to reduce or minimize the effects of skate blade injuries!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Split-second decision saves hockey player's life

A seemingly minor incident on the ice nearly turned deadly after teen's wrist cut by skate.


Taking Action....A Cut-Resistant Hockey Revolution


Today we want to talk about taking action in light of this recent near tragedy. Wearing your standard traditional hockey gear is all very well and good...following all the rules so to speak. But choosing to wear cut-resistant hockey protection requires thinking a little outside of the box. Those of you that have already added these innovative products to your arsenal are the forerunners breaking from old traditions. Admirably, thinking outside the box. Hogan Hockey applauds you.
  
It is not enough to just tout our products. Our approach is to educate. We're talking about taking action here, and in order for you to take action, we must be candid about skate cuts. This is part of the educational process.  We want to elevate your level of awareness. The game is evolving and innovative cut-resistant equipment is part of that evolution. There are risks in playing hockey and these innovative products provide that extra insurance and peace of mind for players as well as parents.

With cuts becoming more prevalent, we now feel it necessary to instill a clear sense of the dangers of skate blade lacerations. To show you what kind of damage these injuries  can do and just how serious they can be. Posting the accompanying video to this near tragic event may seem harsh to some ...but it did happen and can happen to anyone.

In a time where serious skate blade cuts are happening with more frequency, it's amazing how little mention is given to the fact that protection from skate laceration injuries even exists. Specifically, cut-resistant protection for the vulnerable areas not previously addressed by donning standard traditional hockey gear. Our innovative cut-resistant wrist guards, skate socks, underwear, and referee shin tights provide protection that can help to reduce the severity of skate blade cut injuries.  Don't just take our word, we want you to do your homework and do a little digging of your own "take action". With just a little digging you will find that skate cuts  are real and cut-resistant hockey protection is here. And as we say "here to stay".

The facts remain that skate blade cuts do happen, can be very serious, and cut-resistant protection is available. 

Hogan Hockey has been a pioneer in the development of cut-resistant hockey products. We are particularly concerned about skate blade injuries. These types of injuries are the results of accidents and can be prevented or minimized. Since inception our products have been worn at the Pro, Junior and Collegiate levels. These elite players have given our products validation by choosing to wear them for their combined benefit of comfort as well as protection. Wearing any of our ACHILLES® XH SERIES cut-resistant products will help reduce the risk of these types of injuries before they happen.

Play Smart....Protect yourself from CUTS!!
XH Series ACHILLES® Cut-Resistant Wrist Guards w/ Kevlar®