MORE CONCUSSION CONTROVERSY IN TOP AMERICAN SPORT?

National media reports in America indicate that one of Ice Hockey's most recognisable star players is still suffering from receiving two blows to the head at the start of 2011.


Following hard on the heels of the lawsuit against the National Football League by seven ex-players (see SPACE Blog (link to NFL Concussion SPACE Blog ) for details of court action and why) this is the second of America's major sporting leagues enduring high profile issues over cumulative head trauma & player welfare.

The reports suggest that Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby's concussion symptoms have returned, and he may not be ready for the start of the NHL season.

Sidney Crosby in the match against Tampa Bay back in January

He has not played a game since January 5, 2011, after he suffered his second hit to the head in less than a week.The Pittsburgh Penguins rejected suggestions they mishandled star Sidney Crosby's first-ever concussive event.Coach Dan Bylsma has defended the decision not to keep the captain out for the rest of the game after he was blindsided in the Winter Classic last Saturday night.

Crosby then played the following Wednesday in Pittsburgh against Tampa where he was hit again in the head by Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman.


After exhibiting concussion-like symptoms on Thursday in Montreal, he was pulled from that night's game and sent home for re-evaluation. After that, doctors said Crosby had minor concussion symptoms and would sit for at least a week although this period has extended to the end of the season.

It should be noted that Crosby was supportive of the Penguins' decisions in January:
"Looking back, I wouldn't have changed anything we did," he said. "It may be easy to say that now, but I didn't have any head problems and it didn't feel like a concussion. It seemed to be all neck related. I've had sore necks and that's kind of what it felt like at the time."


Click here to read report: USA today story

Sources say Crosby's concussion symptoms returned last week and he cancelled all of his scheduled on-ice workouts at a Halifax-area rink.

Penguins players are expected to appear at training camp in mid-September and Crosby is considered doubtful to be one of them, although his agent denies this.