November 3, 2023
Hockey World Having an Important Conversation
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@CHN_AdamWodon)
These are the shirts Bauer sells, which are made of a laceration-resistant material.
Two current college head coaches had memories of gruesome on-ice events re-realized by last weekend’s news of Adam Johnson’s injury and tragic death from a skate blade cut during a game.
It was just last January that Army’s Eric Huss was hospitalized after taking a skate during a game against Sacred Heart. This was just days after the Damar Hamlin incident in the NFL. The quick reaction of trainers saved both players, and brought widespread praise to the profession.
“I’ll never forget seeing Husser come over to the bench, and he moved his hand for a split second and you could see this gash and all this blood,” Army coach Brian Riley said. “I’ll never forget the doctor saying he was five minutes away from it not being a good outcome.”
St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi was at Miami in 2010 when big defenseman Will Weber was sliced with a blade, from his ear down to his throat.
“My stomach has been in knots,” Blasi said. “Because I know, driving to the hospital that night and having to call Will’s mom to tell her, waiting to come out of surgery. We had no idea. … It was one of the ugliest and scariest things I’ve ever seen. Will was right by our bench. The training staff jumped out immediately and put pressure on it. The doctor was close, the EMS was right there. One or two seconds later, Will could’ve had the same thing happen (as Adam Johnson).” (Weber is still playing in Germany. His birthday, coincidentally, and eerily, was last Saturday.)
These are not the only ones, of course.
Connecticut high-schooler Teddy Balkind lost his life in January 2022 from an incident similar to Johnson’s.
One of the first “famous” incidents was in 1989, when Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk nearly died on ice when his artery was cut. He needed 300 stitches, and recovered.
In 2008, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Richard Zednik, same thing, when he was cut by the skate of a teammate.
In March 2023, a Swedish women’s hockey player, Jenni Hiirikoski, had the same thing happen, just weeks after Huss’ incident.
And it’s not just necks. Although that is the most life-threatening, there have been other gruesome events. Former Minnesota Duluth goalie Alex…
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