New Jersey Devils GM Has Emotional Moment at NHL Meeting After Son Nearly Suffers Fatal Injury
Photo credit: NHL.com
Protection from cuts has become a major story in hockey over the last 18 months, and now Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has encouraged players to use as much as possible.
Ever since the tragic incident involving Adam Johnson in the United Kingdom, players in hockey have been encouraged to wear more protective gear, with many leagues in the world mandating them.
Now, New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has implored players to wear as much as possible, after watching his son Casey (captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack) be involved in a very close call that saw him get cut on the chin by a skate in a matchup with the Providence Bruins back in December.
I don't wish that on any parent. My message was just, 'Tell the players you don't want your parents potentially going through something like this' - how scary it is. Put as much protection on as you possibly can because you're going to stop playing at some point, and you're going to have to live the rest of your life so live it.'
That was what Fitzgerald told his son on the phone as Casey was on the way to the hospital, but thankfully he avoided tragedy, letting his father know immediately that he was going to be okay.
He called us from the ambulance on the way to the hospital, saying, 'I'm OK. I'm gonna be OK." We kind of broke down there.
While this story also shows just how tough hockey players are, as Fitzgerald returned a few nights later with 25 stitches, but now both are advocating for players to use as much neck protection as possible, and given how dangerous things can be, it would be a good move from players.
| POLL | ||
MARS 18 | 319 ANSWERS New Jersey Devils GM Has Emotional Moment at NHL Meeting After Son Nearly Suffers Fatal Injury Do the NHL need to mandate more protective equipment for players? | ||
| Yes | 198 | 62.1 % |
| No | 121 | 37.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
