Jacques Plante and George Owen in hockey. Jackie Hayes in baseball. And now, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon in football. The running back became the first in his sport to wear the Guardian, a helmet cover that limits concussions.
His name could therefore be written in the history books. The Hilairemontais did not know that before jumping on the Mosaic Stadium surface and facing the Alouettes last Friday.
He had heard that Steelers guard James Daniels had worn the gear in the NFL preseason.
“I only realized after the game that I was the first to do it in a season game,” he revealed in an interview with The Press. I’m quite proud of that, but my concern remains the same as before the match: my health.”
During the third game of the season, Bertrand-Hudon, who plays mainly on special teams, suffered a concussion on a punt return.
Against the Alouettes on August 16, Bertrand-Hudon was given a special mandate: “explode the wedge “, as he explains. In the football world, that means he had to neutralize the first members of the defense to rush towards his team’s kick returner. Players assigned this role must provoke violent contact, at full speed.
“A few guys on my team had played that position before me and had come out injured, after blows to the head,” reveals Bertrand-Hudon.
All of Bertrand-Hudon’s teammates, as well as the Roughriders staff, welcomed his initiative. Some Alouettes players even came to congratulate him after the game.
Only a few netizens reacted negatively. With memes, they compared him to the main character of the animated film Megamindknown for his big head.
“I can only laugh about it,” he says lightly. “I know how people think, and I’m not going to start complaining if some of them want to use my case for fun.”
Do as you please
Curiosity is what his initiative has mainly aroused among other players. “Is wearing the Guardian “Was it worth it? How did it feel?” they asked him.
“Wearing it or not, it doesn’t change much for us. We already practice with it. It didn’t bother me at all,” he replies.
The use of Guardian has reduced concussions by 42% during training camps in 2023, according to the Canadian Football League (CFL). So how come a solution to one of the biggest scourges in sports exists, but players refuse to use it in game situations?
“It’s a question of looks, I guess,” replies Bertrand-Hudon.
But beyond last Thursday’s game against the Argonauts, he didn’t know what he was going to do. “I’ll probably wear it for the rest of the season, if not, just for certain positions,” he said.
So don’t expect our hero of the day to become the next Bennet Omalu, or even a staunch ambassador for the Guardian. He is, however, keen to raise awareness among his peers about its use in some circumstances.
When a guy comes back from a concussion he should wear [le Guardian] without hesitation. But I don’t want to become the guy who forces others to do something.
Thomas Bertrand-Hudon
The guy Thomas Bertrand-Hudon wants to become is a father. A healthy man who will enjoy his post-career. For that, the threat of the harmful effects of concussions always hovers somewhere in his mind.
But in the balance, one thought often weighs more: victory.
“It’s certain that concussions don’t cross your mind when you play, you wouldn’t be able to do it otherwise. When you play football, the first thing that matters to you is winning. Health will always come second.”
Waiting for your turn
Winning is something the Roughriders are doing well this season. They are battling for the top spot in the West, in the heart of a division where the standings are very tight.
Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, for his part, is delighted. Even if the depth of his team at his position, where star AJ Ouellette plays, limits him in terms of playing minutes.
“I’m patiently waiting for my chance in attack. I have to be ready, so that when my name is called, I perform,” he resolves.
“It’s a team sport. At the end of the day, we all want to win a championship. For me, it’s far from being a problem.”
In return, Bertrand-Hudon learned a lot from being around Ouellette. “He showed me so many things in a short time. He taught me how to study opposing defenses, coverages. It’s monumental when you want to push your game at the end of our capacities.”
Two of the Roughriders’ five losses have come against the Alouettes. Both games ended with microscopic gaps of 3 and 4 points.
“We made mistakes, we just have to find a way to get the upper hand in close games like these.
“The Alouettes, they have a big team, but I think we’re better. It would be fun to be able to join them, at the end of the road.”
With no helmet
Did you know that there was a time when football was played without helmets? The helmet was not introduced to the sport until 1920. At that time, it was an optional accessory, initially designed by the players’ wives. These helmets had nothing in common with those we see today: they did not have a grid and were not rigid. In fact, they were made of thick leather. Small ventilation holes were placed at the level of the ears. It was not until 1939 that rigid helmets were introduced to football. In any case, the arrival of helmets was a real blessing for football. Before its introduction, 40 players lost their lives, between 1900 and 1905.