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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1975, PAGE 11 Ki*m Crouch's neck injury leads to protective collar by BLAKE PURDY Staff Writer It is sad, but often true, that beneficial developments1 arise out of tragedy-when the life of a country's leader is snuffed out by an assassin's bullet, stricter gun controls are urged; when a group of school children is wiped out at a street corner, a cross- walk is installed; when a far- ner's horses escape capti- vity, a lock is put on the barn door. This practice of acting after the fact isprevalent i the wide and often wild world of sports - most not- ably hockey. Case in point - second period of a Provincial Junior 'A' hockey game between the Marlshan Waxers and the Royal York Royals on Sun- day January 5, 1975, at the Chesswood Arena. Waxers' goaltender Kim Crouch, 18, of Whitby leaves his net to chase after a loose puck....a Waxer defenceman and a Royal York forward speed toward the puck....as Crouch dives to recover the puck, both players attempt to leap over him...one does not quite make it...his skate slashes across the right side of the prone netminder's throat, puncturing his jugular vein... as the goaltender lays on the ice, bleeding profuselv. Wax- er trainer Joe Piccininni ru- shed to his side...he applies pressure to the wound to stern the flow of blood as tean trainer Bob Arris and teammate Steve Harrison help Council should fumble afew during contest Over the years Whitby's Peel Park has been the scene for some fine baseball and also for some atrocious exhibiti- ons. The good baseball has been supplied by the fine young players of the Whitby Minor Baseball Association, the outlandish performances have been provided by the members of the Whitby coun- cil and some municipal de- partments in an annual game with the officials of the W.M.B.A., the association co- aches and executive. Started three seasons ago, the fall e- vent has become somewhat of a tradition, and the horseplay of the afternoon has been the windup of Whitby's baseball season for the men who devote so much time to baseball in the community for many months of the year. This year's 'exhibition' will take place at Peel Park this Saturday getting underway at 3 p.m. The after- noon's activity is a warmup for the W.M.B.A. Fall Bail takiug place Saturday evening ai Heydenshore Pavillion to officially wind up the 75 sea- son. out...an ambulance is called and Crouch is rushed to Branson Hospital...Metro po- lice set up road blocks to clear the way for the am- bulance....two doctors and one specialist perform an op- eration to repair Crouch's throat...his parents anxiously await the news....the opera- tion is success. How could the accident have been prevented, pe~ople begin to wonder. Kim's father Ed, chief of the Whitby Fire Depart- ment, was one of the few people who were wondering, even before the tragedy oc- curred. His concern was heightened by his son's injury. He commenced on the de- sign of a protective collar for the neck one of the few areas of the body which is not shielded in hockey yet one of the most vulnerable, in Januarv. Mr.' Crò5uch began exper- imenting with materials whi- ch could be used in the col- lar shortly thereafter. He had known of a ma- terial called Bairday. It of- fered the protection required but its weight (six ounces) detracted from the effective- ness as the collar proved to be too hot. Back to the drawing board. Mr. Crouch came up with what is now the final prodcut in April and went into production in June. The Kimu Crouch Collar, as it is called, resembles a dickey. The matcriàl used in Kevlar- 29, a nylon-woven fabric used in bullet-proof vests. The collar at the top wraps around the neck and is stuf- fed with a shock absorbing material called ensolite. The collar is fastened at the back with a band made of velcro. The device extends down the front and can be tucked un- der the chest protector or the jersey. The collar is en- closed in a white jersey which is washable. Mr. Crouch plans to sticks wth the white because it is less expensive than colours and there-is no dye to run when a player perspires heavily. In addi- tion, white blends with all colours of sweaters. The to- tal package weighs just over three ounces. The best test for the col- lar came about three weeks ago when Kim wore it during a three-hour practice session with the Waxers. (He lias since been cut from the tearu after the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Asso- ciation Major Junior 'A' ser - ies sent goaltender Jeff Boudreau back to Markhan). Kim made it through lthe day with no complaints about the collar. So, Kim Crouch Collar Limited continues production from the family home at 610 Newman Crescent with six employees: Ed; his wite Kathy, the secretary treasur- er; sons Kim and Bruce, 21' saesmen; and Betty Lowe and Barbara Rutherford, seamstresses. To date, about HIS & HER'S HAIRSTYLING NOW OPEN MONDAYS from 9 a.m. Tuesdays 9 Wednesdays 9 -6 p.m. -6 -6 Thursdays & Fridays 9 Saturdays 8 - 9 - 5 350 collars have been com- demonstrated the colla pleted. signed for skaters as w At present, the company netminders, at goalie c operates on a part-time basis in Oshawa. with no plans for expansion The company hashad in th e immediate future. measure of success from 'It's a wait and see situation', ( 150 have been says Mr. Crouch. and by word of mouth. The company and its pro- Orders have come fr duct were fIrst introduced at far away as Winnipeg, the County Town Carnival toba (50) and Louisville Trade Fair on August tucky (three). Mr. C rade Fair on August 1h Si- surmises that this can o pasethen, Kim and Bruce have attributed to gedia cove passed out order forms at He expects to get minor hockey registrations in more response frorn a sei Whitby and Oshawa and have of 'Hockey Inquiry', an Foodmaster tyke Brown's Foodmnaster are the Whitby Minor Baseball Assoc. 1975 Tyke Champ- ions, winning the title against K-Mart in two straight games. In winning the crown the Foodmaster club had to win in four preliminary playoff series leading up to the cham- pionship round and won a berth in the finals by disposing of Rotary in a set which went During the regular schedule Brown's Foodmaster finished fifth in the 10 team loop while K-Mart were second place finishers. The opening game of the finals was a thriller which the Foodmaster club, made up of boys from Brooklin, won 10-6 but not before K- Mart nearly tied it up in the last inning. The K-Mart squad managed to get the bases load- ed with the equalizer at the plate. K-Mart batter Mike Laurie hit a long fly to left field which appeared to be r, de- ell as linics some n that sold) om as Mani- ,Ken- rouch nly be rage. even gment hour- c] a certain home run which would square the garne at 10-10 and force extra innings but left fielder Brad Fisher for Foodmaster came up with the play of the series going way back and making an over the shoulder catch with some acrobaties thrown in which saved the game for his club. The second gaine turned out to be a cliff-hanger with Foodmaster coming out on top, edging K-Mart 10-9 to take the series and the crown. Again K-Mart battled right to the wire and thought they had tied the gaine in the final in- ning once again only to have a run called back on an appeal play when a K-Mart runner failed to touch third base, an error taht even major leaguers will do on occasion. Greg Gibson. who was on the mound for Foodmaster throughout the series, proved to be an obstacle to the K- long programn to be aired by CTV on November 1, in which Kim is shown running a skate across Bruce's shielded neck. Mr. Crouch says he is not in any hurry to have the collar handled by area sporting goods stores òr to indulge in an extensive advertising com- paign. The collar, which is cur- rently available in two sizes, sells for $24.95.aTead dis- counts are available and re- sult in a $5 saving. Contact Kim Crouch Collar Limited at 668-2986. hampions Mart club who found it tough to hit his hard throwing. Members of Brown's Food- master the 75 champions were Ken Barrett, Steve Ferren, AI Gardener, Greg Gibson, Steve Gibson, Scott Griffin, Dave Grylls, Paul Guest, Devin Hunt, Dave Owen, John Phillips, Andy Prout, Darren Stevens, Donald Wade, Perry Mason, Danny Middle- ton, Peter Revoire, and Brad Fisher. Greg Prout and Leslie Griffin acted as coaches throughout the season with some late season help from Doug Grylls and Elmo Gibson. Members of K-Mart, the finalists, were Bill Andrews, Aaron Badgley, Rob Buowma, Kevin Buell, Greg Cole, Mike Laurie, Tod Mountain, Ed Peters, John Stanic, Ken Valentine, Peter Sibna, Mike Houghton and the club was coached by AI Doucette and Gene Peters. BUILDING SUPPLIES PH ON E 244 BROCK ST. SOUTFH WHITBY. nNTARIO 668-9391 INSULATE NOW Fuel Savings By the Bag ZONOLITE IC INSULA1 $3.50 -7 VI STYRO- 4x8x'/2in. 4x8x3/4in. 4x8x1 in. 4x8xl/2ifl. 4x8x2in. B FOAM $1.79 sheet $2.59 sheet $3.49 sheet $5.39 sheet $6.98 sheet FIBREGLASS Insulation 8.5 cents ft. 12.5 cents ft. 23 cents ft. R- 7-21/2 in. - R-10-3½in. - R-20-6 in. - POLYETHELENE FILM 2-MILL 4-MILL 6-MILL 244 Brock St. S. Whitby 1 cent ft. 2.5 cent ft. 3.5 cent ft. BUY NOW & SAVE 668-9391 CARS PAUNTED $20.00 (Plus Materials) 161 VALLEY RD. 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