During an exhibition game against the Cochrane Generals, Jesse Lyall, an Okotoks Junior B Bisons forward, received a cut above his eye courtesy of a possible butt-end.

Lyall believed the cut to be the extent of his injuries. As it turned out he received a mild to moderate concussion and was held out for three games by Bisons’ coaching staff.

“After a while I couldn’t remember most of the third period,” said Lyall.

Lyall said he didn’t know he had been concussed and actually played another shift following the hit. Later, he went to see Bisons trainer Lorne Dielissen regarding the cut and was informed he had received a concussion as well.

Dielissen told Lyall not to play until he was symptom free and team trainers held him out of practices and games until that time.

On Dec. 18, the Globe and Mail reported the Boston University School of Medicine found Reggie Fleming, a former NHL player, suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of multiple concussions.

Also known as punch drunk syndrome, CTE is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated concussions and it may have played a part in Fleming’s death earlier this year. He suffered multiple strokes, Parkinson’s disease and dementia before his death.

During his 13-year NHL career that spanned from 1959 to 1971, Fleming played for six teams and reportedly suffered 20 concussions, few of which were likely reported or diagnosed.

Lyall’s experience was a polar opposite of Fleming’s.

During his recuperation period, Lyall was only allowed light practice in which he would take shots or go for a light skate. Only after he could skate hard laps without being dizzy, would trainers let him play.

Dielissen said the three most important indicators of a concussion are dizziness, impaired balance or headaches. Lyall remained symptom free until he exerted himself according to Dielissen, a chiropractor.

“When he exerted himself then he would start to get the dizziness and the headaches,” said Dielissen.  “You could tell he just wasn’t able to play either.”

To test an injured player’s balance, Dielissen will have him stand feet together and close their eyes. He will do an assortment of other tests including testing a player’s response to light.

“If I don’t feel they are fit for play to continue a game, then I pull them from the game and they have to wait a week and be symptom free for a week,” said Dielissen.

Jay McFarlane, general manager and assistant coach for the Bisons, said team requirements stipulate a player must get checked if a concussion is suspected in order to track the number of concussions he receives. Fortunately, no one on the Bisons’ roster has missed significant time this season due to a concussion.

“Every year there’s a couple of hits that rings guy’s bells as they say,” said McFarlane.

An ex-Bison, McFarlane played his entire junior hockey career with the team. He can see a difference in the way concussions are handled today as compared to just 15 years ago.

“I know there’s better things in place now, even in Peewee when they can start to hit, than there ever was,” said McFarlane.

The Bisons play under the Heritage Junior Hockey League banner and are bound by league rules. One of which is that each player must wear a mouth guard at all times.

Dielissen said mouth guards won’t prevent concussions but they will lessen the severity of impact on the brain.

Since Lyall’s first game back Oct. 10, he has five points in 17 games. He said he felt well taken care of by the organization.

“I was very happy because it was my first concussion and I definitely didn’t want to get another one,” said Lyall.

The Okotoks Bisons came out of a busy weekend with two wins, an overtime loss and enough points to retake first place overall in the Heritage Junior Hockey League.

The Bisons and Cochrane Generals continued their pitched, back and forth battle Dec. 18 in Cochrane with a tight game Cochrane won, 2-1 in overtime.

The two teams fought for two periods to get the first goal then scored 42 seconds apart before heading to overtime, where Cochrane scored at the 4:47 mark.

Lance Risseeuw and Max Thevenot assisted on Dylan Kendrick’s seventh of the season for the Bisons only marker against Cochrane.

Just 24 hours later the Bisons headed to Strathmore to face the Wheatland Kings and this time left with an overtime win.

Derek Schlamp opened the scoring for the Bisons in the first period on a pass from Lyall. Strathmore replied in the second period before Brady Hoetmer finished off the Kings in overtime.

Hoetmer leads the Bisons with 21 goals. Max Thevenot tallied his second assist in as many nights on Hoetmer’s overtime winner.

On Sunday the Bisons knocked off the Mountainview Colts 5-1 on the road. No stats were available for the game.

The two wins improved the Bisons record to a South Division leading 19-1-1-2 before taking nearly two weeks off for the holidays. The Bisons head to west to face off against the Banff Academy Bears on Jan. 3 in the team’s first game back after the break.

The Bisons downed the Bears 5-1 at home on Oct. 2, the last time the two clubs met.

http://okotoksbisons.com/

rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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