brain injuries
By Elaine O'Connor and Frank Luba, The Province
April 24, 2013
Many hockey parents are surprised to learn that the insurance that comes with registration does not cover brain injury.
Photograph by: Photo illustration , Ben Ngai
Hockey parents are in shock after learning their kids are not covered for brain injury in a concussion-plagued sport.
“I am shocked and dismayed. And surprised,” said hockey dad Doug Jackson, whose daughter was playing in the 2013 Esso Cup in Burnaby on Wednesday. The Esso Cup is the major midget women’s Canadian championship tournament.
“Head injuries are the big issue right now,” said Jackson. “They absolutely should do something about it.”
Another tournament dad, Willem Verbeek, of Timmins, Ont., said he was surprised to hear Hockey Canada’s insurance policy for minor players doesn’t cover brain injuries.
‘SHOULD BE LOOKED AT’
Verbeek, whose daughter Sarah was playing centre for Ontario, said he would “definitely” pay more for better insurance coverage.
“I think it should be looked at,” he said.
Hockey Canada and others are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the family of Darren More, a Vancouver Island man who in 2004 suffered a severe brain injury while wearing a helmet in a Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association game.
The family’s first legal fight against the helmet’s manufacturer, Bauer, failed in 2010.
CASE IN COURT IN JULY
The latest suit against Hockey Canada, the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association, Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and Citadel Insurance will be heard in B.C. Supreme court in July.
Citadel had asked the court that they be excluded from the action. The family claims the insurance arrangement between Citadel and Hockey Canada was illegal and void.
Earlier this month a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that Citadel is to remain part of the action and that determining whether the insurance policy was legal must be dealt with in court.
CONCUSSIONS MAJOR PROBLEM
In his reasons for judgement, Mr. Justice John Steeves pointed out that brain injury was not covered by the Citadel policy. However, there was provision for $25,000 if a player lost the use of both hands and up to $1 million if a player was left quadriplegic.
Concussions are a major problem in hockey. A new Toronto hospital study of 13,000 injured children from 1990 to 2009 found hockey accounted for 44.3 per cent of brain injuries.
Tim Ramage, of Burnaby, was watching his daughter play on Wednesday and said he has bought extra insurance to cover her. His 11-year-old son has already suffered three concussions playing hockey.
Dr. Ian Pike, director of the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit, said concussions “pose a much more serious threat than we thought,” and noted that prevention and public health education efforts had ramped up.
‘SIMPLY UNAFFORDABLE’
“I am shocked and dismayed. And surprised,” said hockey dad Doug Jackson, whose daughter was playing in the 2013 Esso Cup in Burnaby on Wednesday. The Esso Cup is the major midget women’s Canadian championship tournament.
“Head injuries are the big issue right now,” said Jackson. “They absolutely should do something about it.”
Another tournament dad, Willem Verbeek, of Timmins, Ont., said he was surprised to hear Hockey Canada’s insurance policy for minor players doesn’t cover brain injuries.
‘SHOULD BE LOOKED AT’
Verbeek, whose daughter Sarah was playing centre for Ontario, said he would “definitely” pay more for better insurance coverage.
“I think it should be looked at,” he said.
Hockey Canada and others are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the family of Darren More, a Vancouver Island man who in 2004 suffered a severe brain injury while wearing a helmet in a Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association game.
The family’s first legal fight against the helmet’s manufacturer, Bauer, failed in 2010.
CASE IN COURT IN JULY
The latest suit against Hockey Canada, the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association, Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and Citadel Insurance will be heard in B.C. Supreme court in July.
Citadel had asked the court that they be excluded from the action. The family claims the insurance arrangement between Citadel and Hockey Canada was illegal and void.
Earlier this month a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that Citadel is to remain part of the action and that determining whether the insurance policy was legal must be dealt with in court.
CONCUSSIONS MAJOR PROBLEM
In his reasons for judgement, Mr. Justice John Steeves pointed out that brain injury was not covered by the Citadel policy. However, there was provision for $25,000 if a player lost the use of both hands and up to $1 million if a player was left quadriplegic.
Concussions are a major problem in hockey. A new Toronto hospital study of 13,000 injured children from 1990 to 2009 found hockey accounted for 44.3 per cent of brain injuries.
Tim Ramage, of Burnaby, was watching his daughter play on Wednesday and said he has bought extra insurance to cover her. His 11-year-old son has already suffered three concussions playing hockey.
Dr. Ian Pike, director of the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit, said concussions “pose a much more serious threat than we thought,” and noted that prevention and public health education efforts had ramped up.
‘SIMPLY UNAFFORDABLE’
Hockey Canada would not comment on their player insurance policy because of the legal action with More and his parents.
However, according to Hockey Canada documents, the per-player basic insurance fee is $16.15 per year. The Hockey Canada 2012-13 player safety handbook states “insurance is not available to cover many hockey-related risk exposures, as many times the desired coverage is simply unaffordable.”
Kieran Bridge, the lawyer acting for More and his parents, said a key issue in this summer’s legal battle will be, “was this insurance adequate?”
‘COMPLETELY UNEMPLOYABLE’
Bridge said that so far there has been almost no insurance money to help care for More.
“Darren is in a bad way, medically,” Bridge said. “He is completely unemployable and requires constant attention.”
Harold Bloomenthal, president of the Juan de Fuca minor hockey association, thinks it’s time brain injuries were covered.
“It’s counterintuitive not to provide that kind of insurance,” said Bloomenthal, who was present when More was injured. “Should they charge more and provide coverage? That would be my belief.”
HOCKEY, SKIING ‘TOO RISKY’
Murray Morrison, president of Vancouver’s All Sport Insurance Ltd., said his company won’t cover hockey or downhill skiing — they’re too risky. He suggested others might cover hockey head injuries, for a price.
“Five more dollars a year would buy a heck of an insurance policy, said Morrison, adding: “Sports associations haven’t got any money, the government is cutting back on funding and the parents don’t want to pay any more in fees.”
He said the outcome of the More case might prompt an overhaul.
“If the family is successful in suing Hockey Canada, it might compel sports associations to review what they’re doing.”
eoconnor@theprovince.com
However, according to Hockey Canada documents, the per-player basic insurance fee is $16.15 per year. The Hockey Canada 2012-13 player safety handbook states “insurance is not available to cover many hockey-related risk exposures, as many times the desired coverage is simply unaffordable.”
Kieran Bridge, the lawyer acting for More and his parents, said a key issue in this summer’s legal battle will be, “was this insurance adequate?”
‘COMPLETELY UNEMPLOYABLE’
Bridge said that so far there has been almost no insurance money to help care for More.
“Darren is in a bad way, medically,” Bridge said. “He is completely unemployable and requires constant attention.”
Harold Bloomenthal, president of the Juan de Fuca minor hockey association, thinks it’s time brain injuries were covered.
“It’s counterintuitive not to provide that kind of insurance,” said Bloomenthal, who was present when More was injured. “Should they charge more and provide coverage? That would be my belief.”
HOCKEY, SKIING ‘TOO RISKY’
Murray Morrison, president of Vancouver’s All Sport Insurance Ltd., said his company won’t cover hockey or downhill skiing — they’re too risky. He suggested others might cover hockey head injuries, for a price.
“Five more dollars a year would buy a heck of an insurance policy, said Morrison, adding: “Sports associations haven’t got any money, the government is cutting back on funding and the parents don’t want to pay any more in fees.”
He said the outcome of the More case might prompt an overhaul.
“If the family is successful in suing Hockey Canada, it might compel sports associations to review what they’re doing.”
eoconnor@theprovince.com
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