Yet another hockey player lay unconscious and bleeding on the ice after a violent hit from an opposing player
The incident occurred Thursday night during game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup quarterfinals between the Montreal Canadiens, and the Ottawa Senators
The puck had just been passed up the ice toward Montreal Canadiens player Lars Eller, but before it reached him the Ottawa Senator’s Eric Gryba smashed into him at full speed.
Eller’s head snapped back and he fell unconscious onto the ice a pool of blood collecting around his face.
The crowd at the Montreal arena went silent briefly while Eller regained consciousness and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. The hospital later reported he suffered a concussion and facial and dental fractures. It is not known if he can return for the rest of the playoffs.
Although, violent, the hit was seen by some as a “legal” hit, although Gryba was given a five minute penalty for interference and a game misconduct at the time.
Because of the number of such hits that have sent players to the hospital and other such hits have ended some careers, the NHL created rule 48 which states that when the “principle point of contact with the head” occurs, there will likely be supplemental discipline by the league.
Although the hit was not seen as being illegal, ie the head was not deliberately targeted, the league has disciplined Gryba by suspending him for two playoff games.
Meanwhile, the violent hit and resulting injury has –at least temporarily- re-ignited the debate over violence and deliberate attempts to injure, in the game of hockey.
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