Scott Stevens: “Head Shots Are Good for the Game”

Hall of Fame defenceman Scott Stevens who was kn0wn for his devastating open ice body checks, spoke out yesterday on the current issue with head shots in the NHL, and surprisingly said that checks to the head are good for the game. ”Oh yeah, I love a good head check,” said the long time New Jersey Devil who also spent part of his 22 year NHL career with the Capitals and Blues. “For those of us that love seeing a player get knocked unconscious and then lay on the ice with blood pouring out of his mouth, I can tell you that there is no better feeling in the world than using a solid elbow, forearm or shoulder to cause it to happen. If you ask me its one of the best parts of the game.”

Steven’s, who is regarded as one of the most feared players to ever play in the National Hockey League admits that head shots are the one aspect of the game he misses the most. “Man oh man, everytime I see a guy on the receiving end of a brain rattling check to the head, it really makes me wish I were still playing because there is truly nothing quite like catching a guy with his head down and making him lose consciousness,” Stevens said as he recalled his own experiences with the controversial physical nature of the sport. “The hits are nice but when you get to see someone lay motionless with a stream of blood dripping from his mouth forming a puddle of blood on the ice, that is what I love the most. Then there is the satisfaction you feel when the guy gets carried off on a stretcher, followed by the strong possiblity that he’ll never play hockey again is what made all the hard work worth while for me…God did I love playing that game.”