Brutal hit sends 15-year old hockey player to the hospital
Fifteen year old hockey player Timur Bariyev was rushed to the hospital during a game after being slammed head & neck first into the boards.
Hockey is a fast & physical sport, & one of the most dangerous injuries happens when a player is checked into the boards. Unfortunately that's what happened to Timur Bariyev. He was hit from behind & crashed into the boards with his head & neck taking the hardest impact. He's now in the hospital with a serious spinal injury & everyone is hoping for his recovery.
Board-related injuries aren't new to hockey. In 1993, NHL player Kevin Stevens went head-first into the boards during a hit, fracturing his skull and face. He needed major reconstructive surgery and, although he returned to hockey, he was never the same player.
Another scary incident happened in 2004 when Steve Moore was punched from behind by Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi. Moore was driven face-first into the ice, which fractured three of his vertebrae and caused a severe concussion. His career ended, and it led to a long legal battle.
In 2011, a check by Zdeno Chara sent Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens crashing into a stanchion, breaking his neck and causing a concussion. His injuries raised concerns about player safety near the boards and rink design.
These cases show just how dangerous collisions along the boards can be due to the high speed of play. Efforts to improve rink design and stricter rules on hits from behind aim to reduce these risks. We're all hoping Timur Bariyev can recover without life-changing injuries. Best wishes to him for a full recovery.
