MOHA adopts baseline testing to help prevent concussions

"“The thing that struck me is they said the national women’s team actually had more concussions than the national men’s team,” said MOHA president Mark Bentley. “It just shows you don’t need bodychecking to have concussions.”

The presentation was compelling enough to convince MOHA to adopt the program. So before each of MOHA’s 2,650 players in both rep and house league over the age of 10 stepped on the ice this season, they were required to complete a cognitive baseline test that is also used by the NHL, NFL and CFL.

“We’re proud to be one of the first to get out there and pave the way and make people more aware,” said Russell Gunner, a certified athletic therapist and one of MOHA’s two head trainers.

Minor hockey organizations in Guelph and London are also using the ImPACT baseline testing, but MOHA is the largest minor hockey program to adopt it. The organization is using its reserve fund to cover the $25 fee for administering the test, a total cost of more than $60,000.

“Money well spent,” Bentley said. “We’ve always been proactive. We did security clearances before they were mandated and we did mouth guards before they were required.”

Players can do the test online in about 20-25 minutes. By testing players’ reactions, memory and their ability to process information, the test establishes a baseline for comparison when the player retakes the test following a concussion.

Gunner said concussions can be tricky because even if a player is symptom-free, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready to return to action.

“Right now, all we have is ‘How do you feel?’ He may be feeling fine but the brain is still in the process of trying to heal,” he said. “This is a fantastic tool to help determine when a player is ready to return, but it’s just a tool, it’s not the only thing.”"

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Mandatory minor hockey program launched to cut down on concussions

"Niagara IceDogs athletic therapist Peter Dobbin said his players do online baseline tests every year, something that is mandated by the Ontario Hockey League.

Dobbin, a strong testing supporter, said the tests are hard to fudge as it uses a player's responses as a baseline for evolving concussion problems.

The information is then assessed by a hockey neuropsychologist for possible concussion signs.

If a player gets any future blow to the head or other injury where a concussion is possible, they are retested.

Players indicating problems are placed in a return-to-play protocol under physicians' supervision.

Dobbin said he usually has from three to seven players with these issues each year.

That said, not all medical experts approve of the baseline testing for concussions.

Clinicians in some media accounts suggest concussions should be managed entirely by doctors. It is argued some players might be back on the ice before they're ready.

Those interviewed for this story who use baseline testing strongly defend it. They say it flags more players that may not be showing obvious symptoms like headaches.

Qualified doctors are involved when concussion issues are identified, they say.

"It takes the guesswork out of it, in my opinion," Dobbin said, adding leagues that currently rely only on trainers to assess concussions could make good use of testing."

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The suck-it-up culture has to change

"Luc Leblanc, the certified athletic therapist for the Hamilton Bulldogs says the culture is starting to change. “Everybody seems to talk about it (concussions) now.” 

He has been with the Montreal Canadiens organization, which oversees the Bulldogs, for nine years and has noticed a change. He sees about three or four concussions on average every year. He, too, stresses the need for increased awareness."

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