Jeff Carter Hits Anssi Salmela

The barrage of head injuries continues in the National Hockey League this season.  The latest victim of a headshot is New Jersey Devils forward Anssi Salmela, who was caught high by a shoulder from Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter after scoring a goal on Michael Leighton.

After watching the replays from different angles (as shown in the video below) I believe that Carter hit Salmela with a clean shoulder that appears (as of the second replay angle @ 4:30-4:31) to hit Salmela in his shoulder before following through to high and extending his elbow post contact.

This hit was obviously not elbowing, and certainly not charging as you can clearly see Carter coasting through the slot and then taking one stride as he angles toward Salmela who was leaning forward, with his head and shoulder extended, driving to the net. The hit was not extremely late – we can see Carter leaning in to hit Salmela as the shot was taken.

If the fact that Salmela being knocked unconscious is ignored, then my belief is that there should be no supplementary discipline on this play.  However, sometimes the league can punish the outcome and not the action.

Have a look at the video – particularly the slow motion replay at the 4:30 mark and drop your thoughts in the comments!

Shock Doctor Ultra STC Mouthguard

Over the past couple of weeks I have been using the Shock Doctor Ultra STC mouthguard during my hockey games.

Fitting the Ultra STC is very easy and similar to fitting other ‘boil and bite’ mouthguards.  The entire process takes just minutes and the result is as good a fit as you will get from any mouth guard that has not been fitted by a dental professional.  One word of caution when fitting the Ultra STC is that you MUST follow the directions for leaving the mouthguard in the boiling water for at least 90 seconds.

I made the mistake of taking it out too soon when I saw the edges soften and the fit was not as snug as I would have liked.  That said, I put the mouthguard back into the boiling water and re-fitted it after leaving it in for just over two minutes and it formed to my mouth much better.  I can’t help but think, however, that if I performed the initial fitting correctly it would have  resulted in an  even better fit.

In addition, it is important to fit the mouthguard correctly because Shock Doctor offers a warranty for the user of the mouthguard if fitted correctly according to the instructions.  This is a limited warranty that covers some dental work that may not be covered from your regular insurance.

Ultra STC Mouthguard Features

The most noticeable aspect of the Ultra STC versus other mouth guards is the pad on the bottom side of the guard that rests against the bottom teeth.  These Air Cushion Shock Pads re thick enough to help cushion the blow between the teeth, but not so thick that it is uncomfortable or restricts breathing.

The Ultra STC features what is called Mora Performance Enhancement. According to the theory, when fitted and worn correctly, it positions the lower jaw down and forward and the tongue up onto the roof of the mouth, which may increase strength and athletic performance.  It is very difficult to measure and notice for the average player, but if you play frequently at a high level, it may be more noticeable.

To be honest, I have never been a fan of mouthguards, but I have been using a custom fitted mouth guard that I had made at my dentists office.  The Ultra STC is, obviously, not as form fitting as my custom model, but it cost about 3X as much as the Ultra STC.

According to Dr. Robert Cantu, a widely recognized expert, there is no evidence that custom fitted mouthguards offer more protection than ‘Boil and Bite’ versions.

“There are no statistics to suggest that custom-fit mouth guards are better than boil and bite mouth guards” Dr. Cantu said. “There is a higher level of comfort with custom-fit but not more protection.”

For youth players who play many times per week, I highly suggest getting a custom fitted mouthguard as the more comfortable it is, the more likely they are.  However, for adults who don’t play frequently, I certainly think the Shock Doctor STC deserves some serious consideration.

The Ultra STC is available from Total Hockey.net for $22.99 or directly from Shock Doctor.com for $24.99.

Ryan Smyth Injured By Jack Johnson

The following is the video fo the hit by Jack Johnson on Colorado’s Ryan Smyth. Smyth was taken off the ice on a stretcher and transported to hospital for what was then said to be precautionary measures.

Smyth was reported by TSN to be conscious and mobile following the incident.

Video Of Smyth Injury