Inventor of Safety Towards Other Players program dies

By Jordan Caschera

The local man who invented the S.T.O.P. sign patch, appearing on the back of minor hockey players jerseys throughout Canada has died.

Safety Towards Other Players was created by Kevin Stubbington, who coached for many years for the Windsor Minor Hockey Association. He invented the sign to improve on safety at the minor league level. Stubbington had the idea in 1994 to create something to remind players to play safe while on the ice after seeing a hit from behind injury to one of his players. After he designed the miniature S.T.O.P sign, Stubbington lobbied to have it placed above the numbers on the back of player’s jerseys. After the Ontario Minor Hockey Association adopted the program, it was soon mandatory for all minor hockey associations throughout Canada to follow suit.

The S.T.O.P program has received support from Hockey Night In Canada’s Don Cherry, who in 2009 helped fund the program to create stickers which are still placed on the back of all helmets.

Concussions are an increasing issue from the minor league level to the pro level but the S.T.O.P Program has educated players on player safety.

According to Ryan Alexander, forward of the Amherstburg Admirals, the program is a huge part of what player safety is today.

“Playing safe means a lot and it plays a big role,” said Alexander. “Going into the boards head first, I’ve seen a lot of players get injured and concussed.”

The patch, which was originally intended to stop players from hitting from behind in the minor leagues, has reached far beyond that.

“Player safety is huge, even in the pros,” said Broden Meloche of the Integrity Amherstburg Admirals. “Any type of hit is huge. You’re going so fast you don’t know what can happen and you can get hurt.”

According to a post on the WMHA website, in 2007 Stubbington was given the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Award, which honours Canadians who have made a significant contribution to prevent catastrophic injuries in sports and recreational activities

“Kevin was a humble man and well-liked by all who knew him,” reads a post on the Windsor Minor Hockey Association website. “His contributions to the WMHA and the minor hockey will not be forgotten.”