The Hockey Stop

The National Hockey League earlier this season finally took decisive action against hits to the head by adding a rule against blind-side elbows to the most vulnerable part of the human body.

But if that wasn't enough of a message to send about this dangerous tactic (and no, skating with your head down is not an excuse), then this news story out of Quebec hopefully should make some of these hockey players think twice before knocking an opposing player out cold or possibly killing them.

According to the L.A. Times' Fabulous Forum blog, junior hockey star Patrice Cormier, 19, has been charged with assault for an on-ice hit to the head. That means the former captain of Canada's world junior hockey team and a highly touted prospect of the Atlanta Thrashers faces up to 18 months in jail if convicted. His court date is set for July 12.

It's about time the authorities stepped in because a suspension and fine (Cormier was already suspended for the rest of the season and playoffs) is not enough. Not when these reckless and unnecessary hits to the head continue.

A player's life should not be put in danger simply for lacing up his skates and stepping onto the ice. It sickens me when I see players crumple to the ice like marionettes after a a vicious hit like Cormier's or Pittsburgh player Matt Cooke's horrific blindside hit on Boston's Marc Savard that knocked him out.

I hope the NHL and every other league strongly enforces rules against blindside hits to the head, or as in Cormier's case, law enforcement will step in. Perhaps if Cormier sits in a jail cell for a while, it will send a strong and clear message before the day comes when we have to watch a victim never make it off the ice after being the recipient of the most vicious type of hit the game has ever seen.