Former NHL enforcer wants hockey hits to end Wade Belak's death raises questions about effects of injuries, says associate coach of Cowichan Valley Capitals

 

Wade Belak #3 of the Nashville Predators poses for his official headshot for the 2010-2011 NHL season September 17, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photograph by: John Russell, NHLI via Getty Images

Former NHL tough guy Dale Purinton, who was both a friend and foe of Wade Belak, says it is time to take body-checking out of hockey.
Belak was found dead in Toronto this week at the age of 35. He was the third NHL enforcer to die in the past four months, raising questions about the long-term effects of hockey injuries.
"They have tried everything to reduce injuries and nothing has worked,'' said Purinton, who is now the associate coach with the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the B.C. Hockey League.
"They have tried new helmets and equipment, suspensions and different boards but so far nothing has worked. The players today are so strong, quick and big," he said.
"I don't mind seeing the fighting element left in the game because then everyone is accountable. Not too many players have had their careers end due to a fight.''
Purinton had known Belak for years. "We battled each other in the Western Hockey League. He was a great team guy and he will be missed."
Purinton's stand against hitting is in sharp contrast to his 11-year professional hockey career. In four years with the New York Rangers, he amassed 578 penalty minutes in 181 games.
"I played hard all the time and I didn't shy away from anything," he said.
Purinton also played 25 games with the Victoria Salmon Kings in 2004-05. In that time he was suspended twice. He was released after the second incident.
He says his thinking has changed because he is behind the bench and has three small children.
"There are no players in our league like I was. Our league has put a stop to that style of play. In our league, you can only fight five times the entire year before you are suspended."

DIXON- What is black and white and black, weighs about a ton, and tastes delicious? If you ever drove on Highway 200 near the National Bison Range, chances are you know exactly what I'm talking about. Even from a distance, they catch your eye. And apparently, they even stop traffic. "I get a lot of traffic on the road," said rancher Jerry Hamel. "They stop and take pictures, especially in the summer time," BueLingo Cattle Rancher Jerry Hamel said.." They're called BueLingos, but most people call them something else. "Oreos because they can't remember Buelingo," said Hamel. "Everyone can remember Oreo cookies." And when Jerry Hamel tosses Dixon's famous melons their way, they come bounding for joy. The Buelingo is a relatively new breed--created in the late 1950s by a rancher and his son-in-law, a professor at North Dakota State. It has a belting gene that features its unique oreo-like pattern, but it's what's inside that really counts. "The high butter fat in the milk makes calves grow. You get a 600-pound calf in a short period of time and they keep growing," said Hamel. "The cutability is really good, grading, really juicy, tender, flavorful meat on them." They are a mixture of several breeds, including Dutch Belt, Durham, Black Angus, and Chianina. "Most are docile. It's all how you handle them." And Jerry knows exactly how to do that, thanks a certain sweet-tasting Dixon fruit. "That tames them down a bit--the melons," said a chuckling Hamel. "You get a closer relationship with them." Jerry has about 150 head of cattle right now. He will send about 100 of them to slaughter that includes clients in in Pocatello, Ronan and Missoula.

DIXON- What is black and white and black, weighs about a ton, and tastes delicious? If you ever drove on Highway 200 near the National Bison Range, chances are you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Even from a distance, they catch your eye. And apparently, they even stop traffic.

"I get a lot of traffic on the road," said rancher Jerry Hamel. "They stop and take pictures, especially in the summer time," BueLingo Cattle Rancher Jerry Hamel said.."

They're called BueLingos, but most people call them something else. "Oreos because they can't remember Buelingo," said Hamel. "Everyone can remember Oreo cookies."

And when Jerry Hamel tosses Dixon's famous melons their way, they come bounding for joy.

The Buelingo is a relatively new breed--created in the late 1950s by a rancher and his son-in-law, a professor at North Dakota State. It has a belting gene that features its unique oreo-like pattern, but it's what's inside that really counts.

"The high butter fat in the milk makes calves grow. You get a 600-pound calf in a short period of time and they keep growing," said Hamel. "The cutability is really good, grading, really juicy, tender, flavorful meat on them."

They are a mixture of several breeds, including Dutch Belt, Durham, Black Angus, and Chianina.

"Most are docile. It's all how you handle them."

And Jerry knows exactly how to do that, thanks a certain sweet-tasting Dixon fruit.

"That tames them down a bit--the melons," said a chuckling Hamel. "You get a closer relationship with them."

Jerry has about 150 head of cattle right now. He will send about 100 of them to slaughter that includes clients in in Pocatello, Ronan and Missoula.