Steve Moore Incident

On March 8, 2004, Todd Bertuzzi grabbed Steve Moore's jersey from behind and punched him in the jaw. Moore's head was slammed into the ice as they fell. Moore was motionless for 10 minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. He suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a grade-three concussion, vertebral ligament damage, stretching of the brachial plexus nerves and facial lacerations.


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Sami Salo Balls of Steel

On May 9, 2010 in the Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks game 5, Sami Salo ruptured one of his testicles after blocking a slapshot by Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith.


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Max Pacioretty Incident

In Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens on Mar 8, 2011, Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara drove Max Pacioretty into the Bell Centre stanchion. Pacioretty was taken off on a stretcher, and suffered a broken vertebra and a severe concussion.


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Ian Laperrier Incident

In Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils Game 5 NHL Playoffs, Ian Laperriere blocked a slapshot with his mouth. Despite bleeding profusely and losing seven teeth, he managed to return in the third period after receiving 100 stitches.


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Richard Zednik Incident

The accident took place in the Buffalo Sabres vs Flordia Panthers game on Feb 10, 2008. As Panthers captain Olli Jokinen fell to the ice, his skate slashed the throat of a passing Panthers defenceman Richard Zednik. An artery was cut and blood started bursting out. Zednik applied pressure on his throat immediately, and skated towards the bench, where he was attended by the medical staff of the team. A referee realized something had gone wrong when he saw a trail of blood from the spot of the accident to the bench. He blew the whistle, and the game was stopped. Zednik was helped to the dressing room. Everyone in the stadium was in shock.


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Fortunately, the medical staff was able to apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding. Zednik was rushed to Buffalo General Hostpital by ambulance immediately. He was in stable condition.

Upon hearing the news, NHL vice president Colin Campbell consulted with Sabres general manager Darcy Regier, the referees and NHL commisioner Gary Bettman. They decided to continue to game. Sabres won the game 5-3. In the post-game interview, not one person talked about the score or the way they played. Everyone appeared to still be in shock, and only commented on the unfortunate accident. A reporter actually had the audacity to ask how Olli Jokinen felt after accidentally cutting his teammate's throat. The reporter was greeted by the response, "What do you think? What kind of fucking question is that?" He was obviously extremely upset. Hopefully, Richard Zednik will make a full recovery.

Trent McCleary Incident

Montreal Canadiens forward Trent McCleary's freak accident ocurred during a Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers game on January 29, 2000. He tried to block a slap shot by Flyers defenseman. The puck struck him in the throat pulverizing his larynx. His upper airway was obstructed making it difficult for him to breathe. A tube has to be inserted to decompress his lung. Although dazed, he managed to skate back to the bench. He was attended by trainers before being taken to Montreal General Hospital. McCleary underwent an emergency tracheotomy the same day. According to the doctors, he would have died if he didn't have the surgery in time. The incident left McCleary with a 15-percent narrower air passage because of a partially paralyzed left vocal cord and scar tissue in his throat.

Jiri Fisher Incident

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Jiri Fischer suffered a seizure duing the first period in the Detroit Red Wings vs Nashville Predators game on Nov 21, 2005. While sitting at the end of the bench, he went into cardiac arrest. As soon as his teammates and coaches realized what was going on, they sent in the medical staff to perform CPR. Jiri Fisher's heart stopped, and was resuscitated by an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). He was immediately rushed to Detroit Receiving Hospital. His condition stabilized.

Due to the seriousness off the incident, the game was postponed. It was made up on on January 23, 2006.



You can find a detailed article on the incident at http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051206/LIFESTYLE03/512060386/1040