If I hear one more word about head shots before the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I think I might be tempted to give someone a head shot of my own.
There is no issue more tired and worn out than so-called head shots in hockey. I'm not saying that it's not an issue, but it's an issue that lingers because the NHL can't decide how to fix the problem.
On-ice officials and the league office continue to contradict themselves in policing this issue, as was the case again last week with the Niklas Kronwall hit on Martin Havlat. Rightly or wrongly, Kronwall got kicked out of the game -- a move that should have meant supplementary discipline. But there he was, two days later, playing in Game 4.
Let’s be clear: I'm not saying he shouldn't have been, what I'm saying is the NHL and its officials need to get on the same page, because their lack of congruity on this issue is laughable.
There is a simple solution to the problem. And the responsibility does not lie with the heavy hitters on the ice, or the heavy hitters in the league office. The responsibility lies with the on-ice officials. The inherent problem is that severe punishments for blatant head shot crimes are only called when the victim is injured on the play. Watch any NHL game for 60 minutes and you will see at least one head shot go uncalled or pawned off as two minutes for elbowing.
There should be no difference between an elbow to the head and a head shot. The intent is the same and that is to injure the opponent. So the punishment -- severe or otherwise -- needs to be the same. The result of the head shot depends greatly on the angle and speed of the collision, but if the intent is still the same, why is the NHL only penalizing the result?
Until this starts happening, circumstance will continue to govern the head shot and that is impossible to police effectively.
Speaking of head shots, more than a few people implied that I must have taken a big one when I threw my hand up to take a ride in a Red Bull Air Race plane last week. But I trusted the good people at Red Bull the first time it was suggested many years ago that I mix their delicious delight with Vodka and they didn't let me down. I had about 10 that night and didn't sleep for three days, but it didn't let me down. So surely I could trust the good people at Red Bull with my life in race plane.
Besides, there's a Canadian kid racing on the circuit this year. His name is Pete McLeod, and he's just 25-years old -- the youngest pilot on the Red Bull Air Race World Championship circuit. Pete had his name on a pilot's license at 16, even before he had a driver's license. So if it was good enough for Pete, it was good enough for me.
Check out my ride on the sportsnet.ca video player. Canadians get a chance to see Pete in action next month in Windsor on June 13-14 when the series makes its Canadian debut.
ARE YOU THE ULTIMATE WINGMAN OR WINGGIRL? Tell us why and you could win the Ultimate WingMan or WingGirl experience at Red Bull Air Race! Visit www.redbullcanadafacebook.com
ARE YOU THE ULTIMATE WINGMAN OR WINGGIRL? Tell us why and you could win the Ultimate WingMan or WingGirl experience at Red Bull Air Race! Visit www.redbullcanadafacebook.com.