Keep your head up on the ice…

I play goal in Concordia’s intramural league and have been with the same core of guys for going on nine seasons now.

There have been plenty of bumps and bruises, pull muscles and even a broken leg or two over the years.

Last Sunday, however, came the scariest one I’ve ever seen – which made me step back for a second and think about just how dangerous hockey is, even at its most recreational levels.

It wasn’t on a big hit or a stick-swinging incident, rather, it was on a fairly innocuous play just to my right behind the goal line with about three seconds left in the game.

The game was tied at three apiece when the other team’s left-winger stepped over the blue line and let a shot go that rebounded off my right pad and into the corner.

He then charged into the corner after the puck, meeting one of our defencemen, Neil, behind the net.

They jostled for the puck and Neil fell feet.

The winger was just about to swat the puck in front of our net when Neil stretched out with his right arm and batted it out of reach to save a scoring chance.

The only problem was that Neil’s bare arm was stepped on in the process, slicing a bone-deep gash into his arm that started gushing blood.

Fortunately, he was immediately cared for by two players from the opposing team who happened to be paramedics as they waited for an ambulance.

In the end, it took 15-or-so-stiches to close the wound and while Neil’s out for the rest of the year, he should be fine in a couple of months.

This was a real scary incident that ended well.

But it made me wonder what would happen if there was no one there who knew what to do.

Or what if the cut had been on the underside of his arm which is full of veins, instead of the top?

Or what if instead of his arm, it had been his neck?

The truth is that there’s really no way to stop something like this from happening aside from trying your best to play clean.

This case was a total accident, however, and truly no one is to blame.

What are we to do? I’m not sure, but people should be aware that things like this do happen despite the best of equipment and intentions.

Just some food for thought… Please feel free to contact me any time at noahsidel@gmail.com