(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce Executive Director, Larry Landon, has pledged his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation to support research into the effects of concussions and will be urging current and former PHPA Members to consider donating their brains as well throughout his 58 team Fall Enrollment Tour.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation funds and supports concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) research worldwide while translating new research findings into education programs, policies, and initiatives to allow sports to be played more safely.  Founders Dr. Robert Cantu and Chris Nowinski, PhD also advise numerous sports organizations, including the National Football League, NFL Players Association, the Ivy League, World Rugby, and Major League Lacrosse, to create change from the top down. CLF Canada, led by Tim Fleiszer, operates prevention, education and awareness events across the country.

Landon played four seasons of professional hockey from 1981 to 1985 split between the American Hockey League (AHL) and National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.  Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and two seasons of Junior.  Following a career-ending hip injury, Landon remained involved with the PHPA, and was elected Deputy Executive Director in 1991 and assumed the role of Executive Director in 1993.  Like Nowinski and Cantu, Landon believes change must be started from the top down.

“I started playing hockey at six years old, retired from a pro career when I was 27, and suffered my share of concussions along the way,” said Landon.  “I believe that donating my brain for research is the right thing to do if it will help future generations of athletes.”

On October 9th, Landon began the Association’s annual Fall Enrollment Tour where he meets with players from all 58 teams that comprise the AHL and ECHL for a presentation on the PHPA.  During his team meetings, Landon is raising awareness for the Concussion Legacy Foundation’s #MyLegacyPledge program and will be suggesting that players consider pledging their brain. 

“Larry Landon is showing true leadership by pledging his brain, and we welcome PHPA Members who are also committed to leaving a positive impact on the future of not only hockey players but athletes across all sports,” said Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

CLF collaborates with Boston University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, the world’s largest CTE brain bank with subspecialties in concussion, ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. In 2009, CLF coordinated the first CTE discovery in hockey in former NHL player Reggie Fleming. More than 630 brains have been donated, resulting in over 360 CTE diagnoses, accounting for more than 70 percent of confirmed CTE cases globally. More than 4,000 former athletes, military veterans, and controls have taken the #MyLegacyPledge to donate their brain. The list of pledges includes retired hockey stars Keith Primeau, Craig Adams, Shawn McEachern, Ted Drury, Hayley Wickenheiser, Angela Ruggiero, and AJ Griswold, as well as current New Jersey Devils player Ben Lovejoy. Individuals with any head impact exposure history are invited to pledge at ConcussionFoundation.org/pledge.