Gruesome hockey injuries

Gruesome hockey injuries

Hockey is a violent sport and can sometimes be fatal. Players are skating at speeds of 30km or more and carry a weapon in their hands. Tempers are constantly on edge, and the potential for violence is ever present. Frustrated players have been known to cross the line from fair play into near-fatal confrontations. Some of hockey’s most violent altercations, whether accidental or suspiciously on purpose, are listed below. These are a few of the most gruesome hockey injuries in no particular order.

Adam Johnson October 28, 2023

Adam Johnson was a 29-year-old American ice hockey player who died in a tragic accident during a game in England. He was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28, 2023, when a skate blade cut his neck. He had previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL and several other European teams. His death shocked the hockey world and led to a manslaughter investigation by the police.

Ace Bailey December 12, 1933

Ace Bailey was a star player for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1920s and 1930s. He led the NHL in scoring in 1929 and helped the Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1932. However, his career ended abruptly on December 12, 1933, when he suffered a severe head injury during a game against the Boston Bruins. He was hit from behind by Eddie Shore, who was angry after being checked by Bailey’s teammate King Clancy. Bailey fell backward and hit his head on the ice, fracturing his skull. He was rushed to a hospital in Boston, where neurosurgeons worked through the night to save his life. His injuries were so severe that doctors gave him only hours to live. He miraculously survived but never played hockey again. His jersey number 6 was the first ever to be retired by an NHL team. An all-star benefit game was held for him at Maple Leaf Gardens on February 14, 1934, where he and Shore reconciled at center ice before the game began.

Howie Morenz January 28, 1937

Howie Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks, and New York Rangers. He was one of the most dominant and popular players of his time, winning three Stanley Cups and three Hart Trophies. He was known for his speed and skill on the ice, earning him nicknames like the “Stratford Streak” and the “Mitchell Meteor.”

On January 28, 1937, Morenz suffered a career-ending injury when he broke four bones in his left leg and ankle during a game against the Chicago Black Hawks. His skate got stuck in the boards as an opponent tripped him. He was taken to the hospital, where he developed blood clots and other complications. He died on March 8, 1937, at the age of 34, from a heart attack. His death shocked and saddened the hockey world, and thousands of fans paid their respects at his funeral.

Maurice Richard April 8, 1952

On April 8, 1952, Maurice Richard played in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Boston Bruins at the Montreal Forum. In the first period, he collided with Bruins defenseman Leo Labine and suffered a severe concussion and a cut over his left eye that required five stitches. Blood covered Richard’s face as he was taken to the dressing room, where he remained unconscious for most of the game. Many thought he would not return, but Richard returned to the ice with three minutes left in the third period, and the score tied 1-1. He skated past two Bruins defenders and scored a spectacular goal on goalie Sugar Jim Henry, giving the Canadiens a 2-1 victory and a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. It was one of the most memorable moments in Richard’s career and NHL history.

Gordie Howe on February 1, 1959

One of the most memorable moments in hockey history was the fight between Lou Fontinato and Gordie Howe on February 1, 1959. Fontinato, a tough defenseman for the New York Rangers, had a long-running feud with Howe, the star forward of the Detroit Red Wings. Fontinato had provoked Howe several times before, hitting him with his stick and mocking him. Howe had vowed to get even, and he got his chance when Fontinato came after him during a scrum in the third period. Howe dropped his gloves and unleashed a barrage of punches that left Fontinato with a broken nose, a dislocated jaw, and a bloody face. Howe also injured his hand from hitting Fontinato so hard. The fight was witnessed by a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden and captured by photographers and reporters. It cemented Howe’s reputation as one of the league’s toughest and most skilled players, and it humbled Fontinato, who never challenged Howe again.

Bobby Baun April 23, 1964

Bobby Baun was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL for 17 seasons, mostly with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won four Stanley Cups with the Leafs but is best remembered for his heroic performance in the 1964 finals against the Detroit Red Wings. In Game 6, Baun blocked a shot from Gordie Howe with his ankle, which turned out to be fractured. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher but returned in overtime and scored the game-winning goal to force a Game 7, which the Leafs won 4-0. Baun played in that game as well, despite his injury. Baun was known for being a hard-hitting and clean player who often played through pain and injuries. He suffered a neck injury in 1973 that ended his NHL career at the age of 36.

Bill Masterton January 13, 1968

Bill Masterton was a professional ice hockey player who played for the Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League. He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. On January 15, 1968, Masterton was checked by two Oakland Seals players and fell backward, hitting his head on the ice. He suffered a massive brain injury and never regained consciousness. He died two days later at the age of 29.

Larry Zeidel March 7, 1968

One of the most notorious incidents in NHL history was the stick fight between Larry Zeidel and Eddie Shack on March 7, 1968. Zeidel, a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, was known as one of the most violent players in hockey, who had a history of anti-Semitic abuse from opponents. Shack, a forward for the Boston Bruins, was a colorful and aggressive player who liked to provoke his rivals. The two men clashed during a face-off in the Flyers’ zone and started swinging their sticks at each other’s heads, drawing blood and leaving scars. The referees could not stop the brawl, which lasted for several minutes and shocked the fans and the media. Both players were suspended and fined for their actions, tarnishing their reputations and the sport’s image.

Mark Howe on December 27, 1980

Mark Howe was a professional ice hockey player who played in the WHA and the NHL from 1973 to 1995. He was the son of hockey legend Gordie Howe and a Hockey Hall of Fame member. Howe played as a defenseman and a left winger and won two championships with the Houston Aeros in the WHA. He also represented Canada in the 1974 Summit Series and the United States in the 1981 Canada Cup.

One of the most horrific injuries in NHL history happened to Mark Howe on December 27, 1980, when he was playing for the Hartford Whalers in a home game against the New York Islanders. Howe was chasing a loose puck in his own zone when he lost his balance and slid feet-first into the net. His skates lifted the goalposts off the ice, and the metal spike that held the post in place impaled him in the buttock, just missing his spinal column. He suffered a five-inch gash and lost three and a half pints of blood. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery. The injury nearly ended his career and prompted the NHL to change the design of its nets to prevent such accidents from happening again.

Howe recovered from his injury and played at a high level for many years. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982, where he became a Norris Trophy finalist three times and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup finals twice. He finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings, playing alongside his father and brother for one season with the Hartford Whalers. He retired in 1995 with 742 points in 929 NHL games and 504 points in 426 WHA games. He is widely regarded as one of the best two-way defensemen ever.

Borje Salming November 26, 1986

Salming suffered a horrific injury on 26 November 1986 when the skate blade of Gerard Gallant of the Detroit Red Wings cut him. The accident left a deep gash on his face that required more than 200 stitches and cosmetic surgery. Salming returned to the ice after two weeks and continued to play at a high level until he retired in 1993.

Börje Salming was a legendary Swedish ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 16 seasons. He was one of the first European players to make an impact in the NHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. He died on 24 November 2022 after being diagnosed with ALS in July 2022.

Clint Malarchuk March 22, 1989

Clint Malarchuk is a former NHL goaltender who played for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for surviving a horrific injury on March 22, 1989, when his throat was slashed by the skate of St. Louis Blues forward Steve Tuttle during a game in Buffalo. The skate severed his carotid artery and partially sliced his jugular vein, causing massive blood loss and shock. Malarchuk was rushed to the hospital and received 300 stitches to close the wound. He miraculously recovered and returned to the ice ten days later, but he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and alcoholism for years after the incident. He attempted suicide in 2008 by shooting himself in the chin, but he survived again and underwent therapy and medication. He has since become an advocate for mental health awareness and has written a book about his experiences called The Crazy Game: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond.

Eric Lindros May 26, 2000

Eric Lindros was a star player in the NHL who suffered multiple concussions that affected his career. One of the most severe ones happened in 2000 when Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils hit him. In Game 7 of the series, Lindros was coming over the blue line with his head down when Devils defenseman Scott Stevens hit Lindros with a shoulder check, knocking him unconscious and suffering yet another concussion. Lindros missed the 2000-2001 season and never regained his previous form. He retired in 2007 after playing for four different teams.

Richard Zednik February 10, 2008

Richard Zednik is a former ice hockey player who played in the NHL for several teams, most notably the Florida Panthers. On February 10, 2008, he suffered a life-threatening injury during a game against the Buffalo Sabres when his teammate Olli Jokinen accidentally cut his carotid artery with his skate blade. Zednik lost a lot of blood and was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the artery. He survived the incident and fully recovered, returning to play the next season. His injury was one of the most horrific and shocking events in hockey history, and it reminded many of a similar accident that happened to Clint Malarchuk, a former goalie who also had his throat slashed by a skate in 1989.

This is a baker’s dozen of just a handful of some of hockey’s most brutal and severe on-ice incidents. In the comments, please let me know if there are any others you feel are worth mentioning.

Gruesome hockey injuries

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