There are times when sports just aren’t fair, or life for that matter. That reality was brought back in to focus this past week when beloved Aviators forward and Gaylord, MI-native Seth Muzyl was forced to walk away from the game he loved to play.
No, it wasn’t that Seth’s career wasn’t going anywhere, quite the opposite. He has the talent, work-ethic and attitude any coach would want on his team.
The sad reality for Seth was, following fluky play during a practice two weeks ago, he had suffered the fifth significant concussion of his hockey career and doctors finally had to tell him enough was enough.
“When I heard the news my heart sank, both professionally and personally,” said Aviators Head Coach Mike Stanaway. “He is a terrific hockey player and an even better person. He had a bright future ahead of him and it’s just sad to see his hockey career end in that manner.”
Stanaway is especially familiar with Seth and the Muzyl family. Put aside the proximity of their home towns, just about 200 miles and a Mackinac Bridge crossing between Marquette, MI and Gaylord, MI, Seth’s older brother Cole also played for Stanaway with the Southern Oregon Spartans in 2012-13.
While Seth was well on his way to a college hockey career and perhaps beyond, Stanaway fully expects him to continue in the sport he has so much to give back to. In his two seasons in Brooklyn, Seth was part of the Aviators USPHL Empire Championship and USA Hockey National Runner-Up team and was, once again, a big impact on the Aviators NA3EHL team this season.
“Over the past two seasons he had a tremendous impact on our hockey team,” said Stanaway. “He was a joy to coach and unfortunately I feel he was just beginning to scratch the surface of his ability. I know Seth will go to school and hopefully he can get back involved in the game in some fashion whether it be volunteering or coaching down the road.”
Seth’s unfortunate early retirement from playing at just 20 years old, has brought to light, again, the unfortunate rise in concussions, not just in hockey, but throughout sports.
“I think a big issue and something you have talked about significantly,” said Stanaway. “I don’t know whether it is the over saturation of junior hockey, the fact that kids aren’t taught how to properly give and take hits at a younger age or whatever the reason may be, the amount of violent hits to the head and concussions in on the rise. We are only half way through the season and our team already has seven concussions. That is just an alarming number.”
The “you” Stanaway was referring to is former Aviators’ Associate Head Coach Cliff Cook, who still works for the team as its media relations coordinator and recently broadcast an episode of his show First Call on JuniorHockey.com with Cliff Cook discussing the concussion issue: http://www.juniorhockey.com/news/news_detail.php?news_id=89351
Where there was once a fine line between toughness and cautiousness, more and more coaches are thankfully beginning to lean the way of an over-abundance of caution when it comes to all head injuries.
“If there is a fine line it should go away really fast,” said Stanaway. “There is no room to mess with your head. There are just too many medical consequences and too many health risks involving concussions. I feel it is an easy decision, sit out until you are 100 percent cleared to participate by a medical physician.”
The Aviators remain on holiday break before returning to Aviator Sports and Events Center for a two-game series against the Lockport Express Jan. 9-10. As always, Aviators games are available on www.fasthockey.com.
