NHL is Split on Head Shot Rule

This article from The New York Times written by Jeff Z. Klein is titled "With Stricter Rule on Hits to the Head, Some N.H.L. Stars Are Split on a Full Ban". The basis of the article is that NHL players seem to be split between the new and slightly stricter head shot rule and ruling out hits made to the head altogether. For 2011-2012 season, the article states that "the 'lateral or blindside' provision of Rule 48 was removed, making potentially illegal any hit to the head, regardless of the direction from which it is delivered."(Klein 1). The question of going even further and adopting the Ontario Hockey League's rule of banning head shots all together is mixed responses from the players. When 17 of the N.H.L.’s top players were asked whether they favored a full ban on head contact, 7 said yes, 4 said no, and the other 6 said they were not sure. When this idea was first brought up, many people seemed to think it would limit the amount of concussions and other head injuries. In my opinion, defenseman Dion Phaneuf says it best.“We have a fast, physical sport — that’s what we are,” he said. “You can’t take that out of the game. If a guy cuts across the middle, he gets hit, he gets hurt, that’s a hockey play.”(Phaneuf, Klein 2). One this is for sure, this is going to be a game changer.

Klein uses some writing strategies through the article to try to allow readers to form an opinion. He uses ethos when he uses the professional hockey players voice and opinions in the article to make the point that these are the people that play the sport and what they have to say. This makes the reader confident in knowing that these people know what they're talking about. The author also goes back and fourth between both sides which makes the reader want to continue reading and form their own opinion. Klein uses logic and engages the readers common sense when he say that three other leagues or federations have banned checks made the the head completely; including the OHL, where most of the NHL players come from. Klein does an excellent job of recognizing his audience and appealing to them. He uses a variety of hockey jargon and uses quotes from favorite hockey players from a variety of teams. His word choice is not too confusing for an average hockey fan like myself, but also isn't over simplified to make it seem like the author is talking to the reader as if they are 2 years old.

The concussion sustained by Marc Savard of the Bruins in 2010 helped prompt a change

  Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/sports/hockey/nhls-top-stars-weigh-in-on-hits-to-the-head.html?pagewanted=1&ref=hockey