Student Safety in the Spotlight at Concussion Conference in Niagara Falls

Former hockey players will share their experiences and in-depth knowledge of head injuries with participants at the DSBN’s third annual International Concussion Summit taking place in Niagara Falls on April 23 and 24.

The conference will bring together educators, coaches and world renowned experts in the field of concussion research, diagnosis and treatment. Sessions include developing concussion policies and protocols, rehabilitation and strategies to assist students’ return to class following an injury.

Former NHL player Sean Pronger played for 16 teams over the course of eleven seasons and has seen first-hand the devastating impact that severe head trauma has wrought on players. In 2004, as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, Pronger was on the ice for one of the most infamous and violent incidents in NHL history. The attack on Steve Moore by Pronger’s teammate Todd Bertuzzi ended the Avalanche forward’s career and left him with lasting injuries.

Ben Fanelli was playing for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in 2009 when a routine play changed his life. Fanelli had gone behind his net to retrieve the puck when he was struck from behind, resulting in a severe brain injury. The play led to a lifetime suspension of the other player, which was the largest penalty ever handed out by the league. Following his recovery, Fanelli became one of the founding directors of the Head Strong Foundation, dedicated to advance research and support the recovery of individuals following a brain injury.

Other keynote speakers will include Dr. Charles Tator, Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki, founder of the Neurotrauma Impact Research Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, Pediatric Emergency Physician with the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and Dr. Patrick J. Bishop, Kinesiology Professor at the University of Waterloo.

The conference will take place at the Hilton Niagara Falls at 6361 Fallsview Boulevard.

For the full agenda and biographies of keynote speakers, please visit http://www.icsniagara.com/.