WHA2 Takes a Step Toward Safety
October 31, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. â The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced that all players in the WHA2 will wear a protective visor for all practices, scrimmages, pre-game warm-ups, preseason, regular season, and post-season games.
"We realize that it will take some adjustment for the veteran players who may not have worn a visor before, but if we can save one eye, one player's career, it will be worth it." WHA2 Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Governors David Waronker said.
"It is clearly a great decision, one that will protect the players." WHA2 Co-Chairman of the Board of Governors and Senior Advisor, Mike Eruzione, said. "These players have a life ahead of them, and not only a hockey life. I agree with David Waronker that if this rule saves just one player's vision, it is a good rule."
"In my playing days, I saw my teammate Kevin Smyth on the Orlando Solar Bears lose an eye. It is a scary and an ugly injury." Miami Manatees Head Coach Zac Boyer said.
"When I was hit with a puck, I broke several bones in my face including my zygomatic (cheek) bone, orbital (eye socket) bone, and my nose. I almost lost an eye. I needed plastic surgery to repair the damage. Because of that experience and what happened to Kevin, I chose to wear a visor as a player." Boyer said.
"If a player is comfortable with a visor there is no reason not to wear one." AHL Philadelphia Phantoms Head Coach John Stevens said. "Knee and muscle injuries will heal but an eye injury will not and players need to be aware of that." Stevens retired from hockey in 1999 because of an eye injury.
The Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the new rule. All WHA2 players will be wearing visors this season.
The WHA2 will ice six teams for the 2003 â 2004 season: the Alabama Slammers, Jacksonville Barracudas, Lakeland Loggerheads, Macon Trax, Miami Manatees, and Orlando Seals. Each team will play a 60 game schedule beginning on November 6th. Every game will be broadcast on www.irn.fm.
• Discuss this story on the SPHL message board...
SPHL Stories from October 31, 2003
- RiverKings Defeat Arch-Rival Mudbugs, 2-1 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Barracudas Hit the Road for Exhibition Game - Jacksonville Barracudas
- Seals Ready for Live Action - Florida Seals
- This Week in WHA2 - SPHL
- Murray Signed by Trax - Macon Trax
- WHA2 Takes a Step Toward Safety - SPHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
