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Hockey has come a long way in the safety department since the days when players—including goaltenders—took to the ice without a helmet. With that said, there’s still only so much you can do to avoid being injured over the course of a game.
That’s especially true when you find yourself in the path of a slapshot rocketing toward the net. While every NHL player is equipped with pads capable of minimizing the potential repercussions of being struck by a puck, they’re still fairly vulnerable and can consequently succumb to some pretty gnarly injuries.
Last week, we learned Jets forward Blake Wheeler was somehow able to finish a game despite having one of his family jewels shattered during a tilt against the Predators (although the injury did force him to sit out for the next nine contests). Now, we’ve learned Winnipeg was also involved in another similarly gruesome incident that resulted in the Washington Capitals placing defenseman John Carlson on long-term injured reserve.
The injury in question occurred during the showdown between the two teams on December 23rd, as Carlson was rushed to the locker room after he was struck in the side of the head while inadvertently blocking a clapper fired by Winnipeg’s Brenden Dillon (the fairly graphic clip can be viewed here).
In classic hockey fashion, the ailment that’s expected to keep him out of action for months was officially classified as an “upper-body injury.” However, we’ve gotten some insight into the gory details courtesy of Carlson’s wife Gina, who revealed he needed to have his ear surgically reattached in a touching Instagram post she shared on her husband’s 33rd birthday:
“With your ear back on, you came home from the hospital & did it all. When I woke up Christmas morning after being sick the whole night before, I laughed and cried at the same time when I realized as always, you made no short-cuts, literally not one after no sleep and hospitalized, homemade cookies for Santa, cooked an amazing dinner, all the kids presents perfectly arranged with their new hockey sticks positioned up against their motorcycle sleds, full stockings…
The moment the doctor said you could walk, you went out on a walk, then you were told you could ride the bike, and you were at the rink on the bike. I admire so much your dedication and work ethic even when it means I have to hang by myself when I try to bribe you to stay home with me.”
Here’s to hoping Carlson can make a quick and full recovery.