Brad Marchand understands work of concussion spotters

TORONTO-- Team Canada forward Brad Marchand said Thursday he understands why the new concussion spotters being used by the NHL pulled him from the bench during play against Team Europe.
"I think they're just being a little more cautious this year," Marchand said. "When there's any kind of hit where the guy looks a little woozy, then I think they're going to look into a little bit more and just be sure. Everything is extremely serious with the head contact right now, and I think they just want to get ahead of it. It can be frustrating at times as a player, but you understand why it's there."

Marchand was on the Team Canada bench in the third period Wednesday, awaiting his next shift, when a member of its training staff informed him he needed to be examined for a possible concussion after he collided with Team Europe forward Marian Hossa a few minutes earlier.
The collision was flagged by one of the NHL concussion spotters working the World Cup of Hockey 2016. There will be four working from a central location this NHL season watching every game, and one will be on site at each game with the authority to remove a player if there is suspicion of a possible concussion. The spotters are NHL employees and not affiliated with any team.
Marchand returned to the game after he was cleared to do so. It was the second game in a row a Team Canada player was ordered off the bench by a spotter; Logan Couture left to be examined during the game against Team USA on Tuesday. Couture also returned.
Marchand admitted leaving a game that was still in doubt was difficult, but he appreciates why it is being done.
"I was very frustrated, seven or eight minutes left in the game and you never know how long these things will take," he said. "Again, I understand it's for my own safety, but you never like to leave a game. You want to be out there, especially, it was a 3-1 game at the time, a big time in that game. So I want to be out there, but safety first."
Team Canada won 4-1 and next plays Team Russia in a semifinal game Saturday or Sunday at Air Canada Centre.
The difference this NHL season will be the authority the concussion spotters have. Last season, concussion spotters at games could only notify a team's medical staff that a player had shown some sign of a potential concussion. This season, spotters are empowered to mandate that a player leave the game to be examined in a quiet space away from the bench.
Marchand said because his collision with Hossa involved head contact, he had to get examined. Hossa did not require an examination.
"I guess, after speaking with the trainers, yeah, the initial point of contact was the head, which is why they looked into it," Marchand said.