Hockey linesman seriously injured in Canada -- throat cut

[Auggie]

espn.com, 12-30-09

WOODSTOCK, Ontario -- A 25-year-old hockey linesman was gravely injured when his neck was cut by a skate during a Junior C game on Tuesday.

The incident took place in the third period of a game between the New Hamburg Firebirds and the host Woodstock Renegades. The linesman, Kevin Brown, was initially reported to be in stable condition, but Renegades owner Bill McLeod said he was told Brown is "not doing so well now."

<snip>

According to the North Bay (Ont.) Nugget newspaper, Woodstock's Craig Thomson, who had just scored to tie the game 4-4, got into a fight with New Hamburg's Reid Oliver behind the Firebirds' net after the goal and subsequent celebration.

The two traded punches until Thomson threw Oliver to the ice. Oliver's right leg was lifted through the air -- "almost like a cartwheel motion," McLeod said -- and his skate cut Brown's throat under his chin on the right side of his face. Witnesses say Brown's neck was gushing blood as he skated off the ice, and he collapsed before he could reach the benches. Trainers from both teams and an off-duty nurse, who had been in the crowd, worked to stabilize Brown and control the bleeding.

Team trainers said he drifted in and out of consciousness as he was loaded into an ambulance. Brown was initially taken to a hospital in Woodstock, where he had immediate surgery, then was transferred to the London hospital.

MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4781782

Has this ever happened before?

[Upton]

1. Richard Zednik got cut like that

a couple years ago...http://www.break.com/index/richard-zednik-hockey-throat-cut.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjoByuFt1_8



and while I was looking for that video, I found this..goalie Clint Malarchuck getting it right across the jugular:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKFw4atjDY4&feature=related

[Auggie]

2. Gruesome injuries n/t

[Forkboy]

3. Malarchuk would have died if there hadn't been EMTs at the arena.

It's because of that injury that it's now mandatory to have them at all NHL games.

I remember ESPN showed the clip of the incident once, then wouldn't show it again because it was too gruesome. He'd be back playing a few weeks, and a couple hundred stitches, later.

[Captain Hilts]

4. You press a WET towell on the throat and press. That saved a Sabre a few years back. nt

[Forkboy]

5. It's amazing this doesn't happen far more often in hockey than it does.

All things considered I can't believe the LACK of injuries in hockey. I remember playing one time and me and another guy were skating flat out for a loose puck. We both had our arms swinging as we skated as hard as we could, and as he swung his arms the blade of his stick went right in front of my eyes. I felt the breeze on my eyeballs, no joke. It's that close sometimes. :scared:

[Captain Hilts]

6. Are you as excited about tomorrow's game as I am?

[Forkboy]

7. Yeah, but it's supposed to rain.

Hope it holds off long enough for the game, but either way it's going to be super cool to see. Fenway Puck! The NHL has a great thing going with this Winter Classic. Yankee Stadium next year with the Rangers and Devils! :)

[Captain Hilts]

8. It's a really great idea. I HOPE it doesn't rain. Which college teams are

also playing?

I got in the mail today a chit from that racket "The Danbury Mint" for a framed photograph of the game in Fenway.

[Forkboy]

9. There's 2 college games next week.

At 4 there's Northeastern and UNH women's hockey (GO HUSKIES!) and at 7:30 there's Boston College vs Boston University, a great rivalry. I like how they've incorporated college hockey and public skating into the scheme of things this year. I hope in future venues they try to do the same thing as they've done in Boston this year.

[Captain Hilts]

10. BC all the way!