I know we all love a good hockey fight, but this is a sad reminder that the game is more dangerous than we like to admit.

Don Sanderson, a 21-year-old defenseman for a senior league—amateurs over 18— in Ontario, lost his helmet during some fisticuffs in a game on December 12. When both players tumbled to the ice, Sanderson hit his head and lost consciousness. He later slipped into a coma and underwent brain surgery, but was eventually placed on life support and passed away three weeks later.

There's been some debate since then about the rather lax use of chin straps, or whether that would have even mattered since players routinely lose their helmets in fights. It sounds more like a freak accident to us, but a very sad one indeed.

Sanderson Passes Away As A Result Of Head Trauma [TSN]
Hundreds gather to mourn loss of young hockey 'hero' [CTV]

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