Stan Mikita, a former all-pro forward for the Chicago Blackhawks, has been diagnosed by his doctor with short-term memory loss. The diagnosis comes in the fresh wake of a pending lawsuit in which over 200 former NHL players are suing the league, alleging the NHL failed to warn players about the dangers of concussions and brain injuries.
Mikita is still known for making public appearances on behalf of the Blackhawks. He received the diagnosis sometime after December 2013. He turns 74 years old this May. During Mikita’s 22-year NHL career, it’s likely he suffered multiple concussions, though how many cannot be determined. He also played in an era of professional hockey when helmets were not mandatory.
Mikita will Not Join Current Lawsuit against NHL
Despite the current pending lawsuit, Mikita is not among the plaintiffs and told NBC Chicago he does not hold the game of hockey responsible for his memory problems. Mikita said:
“It’s a game that has served me well and has furnished me with so many tremendous opportunities doing what I love.”
Mikita’s family also commented on his recent diagnosis and any connection to his hockey career. They said:
“He is not certain if he had any concussions during his playing days because concussions were not diagnosed, tracked or recorded.”
Things have changed since Mikita’s playing days. The NHL began requiring helmets in 1979, and Mikita was the first grandfathered veteran in the league to volunteer to wear one, but not required to do so under the new rules
Then in 2011, the league instituted a concussion policy that reads:
“Players suspected of having a concussion will be removed from the game and sent to a quiet place free from distraction so they can be examined by the on-site team physician. The physician will use the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool test to evaluate the player. Symptoms include loss of consciousness, motor incoordination or balance problems, a blank or vacant look, slow to get up after a hit to the head, disorientation, clutching of the head after a hit or visible facial injury in combination with another symptom.
In the past, a player suspected of having sustained a concussion would be evaluated by the team’s trainer or a doctor in the bench area. If a concussion was suspected, the player was moved to a quieter area for further evaluation.”
References:
CSN Chicago
