The game of hockey is inherently dangerous. If you need proof of this, look no further than the game between the Nybro Vikings IF and Tingryds AIF. The game had to be halted in the first period when twenty-four-year-old AIF right winger Linus Hedman was hit by a Vikings defender moments after he sent the puck into the neutral zone.
Due to the unfortunate hit, medical help was required and Hedman was taken off the ice in a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance before being sent to the hospital for further evaluation.
Everyone who has played the game knows that you learn to keep your head on a swivel to avoid scenarios such as this happening to you or an opponent, but it does happen. Whether the hit was clean, and the defender was just finishing their check is up for interpretation. The game has gotten faster, the players stronger and in some cases, there is no regard for anybody on the ice. As the game continues to evolve, the equipment has become such that players should feel safer, but this isn't always the case, accidents do happen, especially when it's least expected.
Afterwards, an update on the twenty-four-year-old posted on Tingryds AIF's website read as follows:
Those of us here at Blade of Steel wish Linus a speedy recovery and hope he's back with Tingryds as soon as he's cleared to do so.
POLL | ||
28 SEPTEMBRE | 142 ANSWERS HockeyAllsvenskan game between Tingryds AIF & Nybro Vikings called off after medical emergency Do you believe hockey has become too dangerous? | ||
Yes. The players are bigger, stronger & faster | 54 | 38 % |
No. Same as it always was | 88 | 62 % |
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