My Hero- Keith Magnuson 1947-2003

It’s one of the beautifully unique aspects of hockey. The toughest players on the ice are inevitably the nicest ones off it. Nobody was tougher than Keith Magnuson during his 10 years patrolling the blue line for the Blackhawks at the Stadium. Look the wrong way at one of his teammates and you would have to answer to No. 3. That toughness stayed on the ice, however. Off the ice, out of uniform, there was nobody nicer.

John Ferguson, Dave Schultz, Terry O’Reilly, the Plager brothers . . . there were plenty of bad dudes in the NHL during Keith Magnuson’s playing days. He fought them all and lost to most of them–Carol Vadnais being a notable exception. But it wasn’t his fighting ability that distinguished Keith Magnuson, it was his fighting spirit. As much as the great Bobby Hull or Stan Mikita, he came to symbolize a proud, talented Blackhawks team that was great fun to watch and follow. Modest talent, im-measurable desire.

Keith Magnuson was a classic NHL defenseman, with 14 goals and more than 1,400 penalty minutes during his many years with the Hawks. To hockey fans the world over, he gained a reputation as a fiery redhead and a hard-nosed player. To Chicagoans who have come to know and love him over the past 30 years, he was an open and friendly man, always quick with a smile and an autograph. He was a shrewd and successful businessman, a tough competitor on the links and a loving family man.

I was fortunate enough to become friends with this amazing man!

 

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Ice Massage for a Sports Injury by Keith Sei

Ice Massage is one of the most effective ways to treat a soft tissue injury

Why Ice a Soft Tissue Injury?

Applying ice to a soft tissue injury can help reduce swelling and inflammation by reducing blood flow to the injured area. Ice also provides temporary pain relief after an acute or traumatic injury. In order to get the best result, it’s important to ice the injury during the 48 hours after the injury, before the swelling becomes advanced.
Ice therapy that reduces the temperature of the injured tissues by 10 to 15 degrees for short, repeated periods of time also appear to have the best results.

For Soft Tissue Injury, Ice Massage Is Best:

Ice massage is the most effective method of applying ice to an injury. The research regarding the use of ice on soft tissue injuries continues to support the following guidelines for icing an injury. These steps result in the best treatment outcomes for many acute sports injuries.

How to Perform an Ice Massage:

The easiest way to perform ice massage on an injury is to freeze water in a small paper cup. Rip the cup to expose the ice. With the injured body part elevated above the heart (if possible) to reduce swelling, massage the injured area. Keep moving the pack in a circular motion for 10 minutes; never hold it in one place. As the ice melts, tear down the sides of the cup to expose the rest of the ice.
Tip: So you always have a handy way to do ice massage, keep small paper cups filled with water in your freezer.

Repeating the Ice Massage:

The most effective and safest use of ice has been found with a repeated application for 10 minutes at a time. Allow the injured body part to warm for at least an hour before repeating the ice massage. Using repeated, rather than continuous, ice applications helps sustain reduced muscle temperature without compromising the skin. It also allows the superficial skin temperature to return to normal while deeper muscle temperature remains low.

How Long to Continue the Massage:

The amount of time you continue the ice massage cycle is dependent upon the amount of pain and swelling you have, the extent of the injury and your personal preference. In general, repeating the ice massage 3 to 5 times a day in the first 24 to 48 hours is helpful. After 48 hours, there is less evidence that icing the injury will improve your healing time.

Cautions With Ice Massage:

Treating an injury too long can cause further damage to the soft tissues, and even result in frostbite.

Keep in mind that your reflexes and motor functions are also impaired following ice treatment, so you may be more susceptible to injury for up to 30 minutes following treatment. For this reason, avoid using the injured body part until the tissue has warmed back up (about an hour).
Alternate Icing Techniques:

If you don’t want to use an ice massage, you can use a small zipper bag of crushed ice, a package of frozen peas or a commercial ice pack to ice your injury. With these options, as long as you have thin towel or other protective barrier between your skin and the ice, you can leave the pack in place for about 15 minutes at a time. Again, be careful not to let ice sit on the skin — either continually move the pack or use a thin towel between the ice and skin.

 

 

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NHL teams help replace kids’ stolen gear

A midget hockey team may have lost its equipment in Phoenix, but the players gained respect for two NHL teams who came to their rescue.

The South Side Athletic Club team from Edmonton, Alberta, woke up Sunday morning to find a trailer containing all of its hockey gear had been stolen from a hotel parking lot in Peoria, Ariz., according to the Edmonton Journal.

Without the equipment, the team would’ve had to forfeit two games on Sunday at the Cactus Cup tournament it was competing in. Instead, the team was able to go on thanks to help from the Edmonton Oilers and Phoenix Coyotes.

The parent of a player on the team got in touch with the Oilers, who called Coyotes’ head equipment manager Stan Wilson asking for help.

Wilson was able to pull together a complete set of gear for the players — except goalie equipment.

“Just bits and pieces here and there, some new, some used,” Wilson told the Journal. “You want to help the kids out. They came all the way to Phoenix to play hockey and somebody takes their trailer. I’m sure the people who took it don’t even know what was in it.”

The team estimated the lost gear cost about $50,000, parent Victor Stamp told the Journal.

“It’s very disappointing, of course, but we’ve been treated royally and everybody has really come together for us. You have to be thankful for that,” Stamp said.

Unfortunately, the kids will have to leave their loaned gear behind in Arizona before heading back to Canada on Monday.

But the team will be leaving with a warm impression of the Phoenix hockey community, parent Cara Stamp told the Journal.

“Regardless of the outcome, I think it’s pretty cool that they’re actually going out in Phoenix Coyote jerseys,” she said. “Really, it brings a tear to my eye when you think about what they actually did for these 16-year-old kids who are just trying to play hockey in Phoenix.”

Parents now are worried about spending the roughly $3,000 it costs to replace the equipment for each player with playoffs only a few days away.

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UNDERSTANDING CONCUSSIONS AND HEAD INJURIES

FACTS

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Injury

Prevention and Control (NCIPC), each year, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a concussion. A concussion

is also commonly referred to as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injuryrelated

deaths in the United States. About 75% of TBI’s that occur each year are concussions or other forms of

mild TBI. The other big concern is the number of people with TBI who are not seen in an emergency room or

who receive no care is unknown.

 

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can

change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes

the head to move rapidly back and forth. Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what might seem to be a

mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

 

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION?

To help recognize a concussion, you should watch for the following two things with an athlete:

 A forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head. And,

 Any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning.

It is suggested that any athlete who experiences any of the following signs and symptoms after a bump, blow,

or jolt to the head or body, be kept out of play the day of the injury and until a health care professional,

experienced in evaluating for concussion, clears the athlete as symptom‐free and able to return to play.

 

Coaching Staff Observations of an Athlete:

It is suggested that any coach who observes any of the following symptoms and/or suspects an athlete has

sustained a concussion, should remove the athlete from practice or game competition and not allow his/her

return until a written clearance is received from a licensed health care provider. Let the parent/guardian know

right away.

 Appears dazed or stunned

 Is confused about an assignment or position

 Forgets an instruction

 Is unsure of the game, score, or opponent

 Moves clumsily

 Answers questions slowly

 Loses consciousness (even if briefly)

 Show mood, behavior, or personality changes

 Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall

 Can’t recall events after hit or fall

 

Symptoms / Observation for Parents, Guardians and Athletes:

Even though most concussions are mild, all concussions are potentially serious and may result in complications

if not recognized and managed properly. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may show up right after the

injury or can take hours or days to fully appear. If you recognize or your athlete reports any of the following

symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Let your team coach know of your findings.

 Headaches or “pressure” to the head

 Nausea or vomiting

 Balance problems or dizziness

 Double or blurry vision

 Sensitivity to light

 Sensitivity to noise

 Feeling sluggish, hazy, fogy or groggy

 Concentration or memory problems

 Confusion

 Doesn’t “feel right” or is “feeling down”

 Show mood, behavior, or personality changes

 Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall

 Can’t recall events after hit or fall

 

ATHLETE TO ATHLETE

Good teammates always watch out for each other. If you see it or recognize it…Report it. Tell your coach if a

teammate shows signs or symptoms of a concussion.

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My Hockey Hero- Keith Magnuson #3

When Keith Magnuson launched his junior career with the Saskatoon Blades of the SJHL in 1964-65, his on-ice performance bore little relationship to the wild-man tendencies he would later display at the NHL level. To the contrary, he left the Blades after one season to attend college at the Univeristy of Denver where he performed as an NCAA all-star during his final two campaigns on campus.

To shake his erudite reputation, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1969-70. From that moment on, Magnuson, with his red head of hair, erupted onto the NHL scene like an angry carrot. He was not a particularly big man by big-league policemen standards. To compensate, he took boxing lessons to enhance his fist work and would work himself into a pique before the start of each game. In the early years, he took on all comers and often came out on the losing end. Nonetheless, he became a team leader on the strength of his commitment to compete at the outer extreme of his endurance. He adopted coach Billy Reay’s defensive mantra of “None Against.” That meant that Magnuson would strive at all costs to keep the puck out his own net. He once noted that in support of the mantra, he’d stop the puck with his teeth if necessary.

As his career moved from the early to late 1970s, the fiery defender began to mellow with age and mileage. His penalty minutes fell into decline as he left more of the punch-ups for the younger guys. He concentrated on stay-at-home defense until injuries began to slow him down.

During a game at the start of the 1979-80 season, Bruin slugger Stan Jonathan scrummed with Magnuson along the boards asking if the Hawk defender wanted to drop the gloves. By then, a battered Magnuson was sporting braces on his back and his knee and, by his own admission, had to think about it for a few seconds before he obliged. At the end of the game, the veteran blueliner marched right up to Bob Pulford’s office and announced his retirement. He felt that if he ever had to think about whether he would or wouldn’t fight, even for a second, then it was time to quit.

Magnuson left the ice to serve as the club’s assistant coach until he replaced head coach Eddie Johnston the following year. The move bore little fruit, however. Magnuson’s lack of experience and familiarity with the players hindered his ability to lead with authority. The team languished and he was dismissed by 1982.

On December 15, 2003 after attending the funeral of former NHLer Keith McCreary, Magnuson was involved in a serious car accident with another former NHLer Rob Ramage. Ramage escaped the accident with a broken leg, however, Magnuson would not be as fortunate. At the time of his death Keith Magnuson was 56 years old

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ANYONE Can Be Blazingly Fast – Would You Like To Know How?

It’s not just about genetics…

The right training system can turn slow athletes into quick ones..

And there is no better speed training system available than “Complete Speed Training”…

It’s transformed the performance of hundreds of athletes. You can be next…

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QuickStickz

QuickStickz is a revolutionary new interactive stickhandling training system that turns your hockey stick into the ultimate video game controller. Players work their way through a series of on-screen stickhandling drills and games designed specifically to improve their ability to stickhandle with their heads up. A player’s head must be up looking at the computer screen. Perfect Practice!

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