Emotions Get Better Of Lindros Nhl Star, Family Urge Vigilance In Combating Concussions

Philadelphia Flyers superstar Eric Lindros broke into tears Wednesday as he talked about how hockey concussions cut short his younger brother’s promising NHL career.

Lindros, brother Brett and father Carl joined the Ontario Brain Injury Association and minor-league hockey officials to call on parents, players, trainers and doctors to be more vigilant about concussions suffered on the rink.

“It’s time to understand that we have a problem,” Eric Lindros said, trying to choke back tears. “We just don’t want anyone to go through this again.”

Brett, 21, was a first-round draft choice of the New York Islanders in 1994. But he played just 51 games for the Islanders before repeated concussions forced him to retire from hockey in May 1996. Neurosurgeons told him he could suffer permanent brain and vision problems if he suffered any more serious hits.

“It’s time to stop focusing on the player and focus on the problem,” said Brett.

“You cannot fix a brain, that’s something I had to learn. It’s not like a shoulder or a knee.”

The Lindros family and the Ontario Brain Injury Association are promoting a set of guidelines developed by the Academy of Neurology in America which lists grades of concussions, typical symptoms and recommended treatment.

A limited number of paintings depicting the Lindros brothers playing as youngsters will also be sold to minor-league hockey clubs to raise money for brain injury research.