Swiss hockey player paralyzed after crashing into boards

[ktguen]

Ronny Keller Paralyzed After Crashing Into Boards During Swiss Playoff Game, Doctor Says









Ronny Keller, a Swiss ice hockey player for Olten in the NLB league, took a devastating hit in a playoff game on Tuesday night. Doctors treating him say the incident left him paralyzed, according to The Associated Press.
In a playoff game against Langenthal, Keller was going for the puck near his own net when Stefan Schnyder checked him from behind. Keller crashed head first into the boards and had to be stretchered off the ice.
Swiss German-language paper Tages Anzeiger reported that Keller is in the ICU of the Swiss Paraplegic Centre, via Puck Daddy. Swiss media also reported that Schnyder has been questioned by police, according to The Associated Press.
A doctor at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre said in a statement obtained by The Associated that Keller has sustained "permanent spinal paralysis" due to damage to his fourth thoracic vertebra.
This was Keller's 15th season playing professional hockey in the Swiss league, per eliteprospects.com.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/07/ronny-keller-paralyzed-injury-boards_n_2830598.html

[RedSoxGamecock8]

What a cheap shot. Crap like this is why hockey gets a bad wrap. I couldn't see in the video by looking at the refs but to make it worse was that not icing?

[catdaddy66]

Very similar to the hit by an Avalanche player on a Red Wing in the NHL playoffs several years ago (10?). Sorry, I don't remember the names but the Detroit player looked like Quasimodo after the hit! Made for some BAD blood between the teams that continues to this day...

[Kaka]

call me what you want but this one of the reasons I don't like hockey, that crap was completely unnecessary, now what the dude is paralyzed? what a tough sport...

[I Bleed Garnet]

Reminds me of the Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore, would not be surprised if he's charged with assault like Bertuzzi was

[GTjacketcock]

I played hockey in high school and took a similar hit to this once. Thankfully I only got a concussion and a broken wrist, but these are the most dangerous plays in hockey. I was lucky enough to put my head up in time before I hit the boards or else I might not be typing this right now. When defensemen are going to the corner to get a loose puck they have to have their head down and facing the boards, leaving them vulnerable to hits like the one in the video above. The AHL tried to combat the issue by creating a hybrid icing rule, but I heard they are doing away with it because the NHL is keeping the traditional touch-up icing.

Thoughts and prayers to Ronny Keller and his family. Hate to see things like this happen in a sport I love so much.

[WayzUp]

Originally Posted by catdaddy66

Very similar to the hit by an Avalanche player on a Red Wing in the NHL playoffs several years ago (10?). Sorry, I don't remember the names but the Detroit player looked like Quasimodo after the hit! Made for some BAD blood between the teams that continues to this day...

That was Claude Lemieaux on Kris Draper when the Avalanche & Red Wings had a pretty intense rivalry going on for a few years straight. He damn near killed Draper in, you're right, a hit very similar to this if I remember it correctly. He got ejected and that was the last game in the series and I think Detroit went on to win the Cup that year.

The next year rolled around and they met up again in the playoffs & less than a second after the first puck drop, the Red Wing enforcer back then (can't remember his name) IMMEDIATELY jumped on Lemieux and just beat the shit out of him....the refs didn't do a thing to stop it for far longer than they usually would --- probably cuz they knew like everyone else that he had it coming.

This hit here though...happens more than rarely; surprised it's taken this long for someone to get this seriously injured. I hope that Schnyder guy relives this in his dreams for the rest of his life...I know his intent wasn't to paralyze the guy but it was a cheap shot no matter what.

[ccured]

Originally Posted by GTjacketcock

I played hockey in high school and took a similar hit to this once. Thankfully I only got a concussion and a broken wrist, but these are the most dangerous plays in hockey. I was lucky enough to put my head up in time before I hit the boards or else I might not be typing this right now. When defensemen are going to the corner to get a loose puck they have to have their head down and facing the boards, leaving them vulnerable to hits like the one in the video above. The AHL tried to combat the issue by creating a hybrid icing rule, but I heard they are doing away with it because the NHL is keeping the traditional touch-up icing.

Thoughts and prayers to Ronny Keller and his family. Hate to see things like this happen in a sport I love so much.

The hybrid icing rule should be the standard in all leagues IMO. It prevents serious injuries. I thought all eurpoean leagues used no touch or automatic icing rules.

[sc455]

i obviously dont understand hockey because it seems i see these types of hits everytime i do watch a hockey game on tv.

I thought it was first to the puck. if you are first and get your ass nailed to the wall then too bad. what am i missing? i mean, it is unfortunate as heck but from what i know, hockey allows it.

[sandstorm2001]

Originally Posted by sc455

i obviously dont understand hockey because it seems i see these types of hits everytime i do watch a hockey game on tv.

I thought it was first to the puck. if you are first and get your ass nailed to the wall then too bad. what am i missing? i mean, it is unfortunate as heck but from what i know, hockey allows it.

Doesn't look like he ever made it to the puck. Other than that I don't know anything about the rules of Hockey.

[I Bleed Garnet]

In International Leagues there is no touch icing.
It occurs when a player shoots the puck across two red lines towards the opposing teams Net.

In the NHL that would not have been an icing because the player on the green team (the guy who got hurt) did not touch the puck.

But in International league play (The olmypics use these rules) once the puck crosses the 2nd red line the play is whistled dead- an icing.

It is tough to make out from the video though if the Yellow or Green team was the one that cleared the puck

[Schecter]

It's scary/crazy to me to watch someone's life change in the blink of an eye like that. I don't like it.

[Flameout12]

Originally Posted by Schecter

It's scary/crazy to me to watch someone's life change in the blink of an eye like that. I don't like it.

And that some guy shoving another guy produced that kind of life changing injury. There is something wrong with that....

[Schecter]

Originally Posted by Flameout12

And that some guy shoving another guy produced that kind of life changing injury. There is something wrong with that....

I actually thought about myself, if I caused that injury. I'm not sure how I could live with myself, accident or not.

[ccured]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

In International Leagues there is no touch icing.
It occurs when a player shoots the puck across two red lines towards the opposing teams Net.

In the NHL that would not have been an icing because the player on the green team (the guy who got hurt) did not touch the puck.

But in International league play (The olmypics use these rules) once the puck crosses the 2nd red line the play is whistled dead- an icing.

It is tough to make out from the video though if the Yellow or Green team was the one that cleared the puck

Yellow team threw it in the corner from just past their blue line. It crossed red half, greens blue line, and the greens red end line. Should have been icing in Olympic rules

[sc455]

i agree. i would know that it was not on purpose but still i would be a bit torn.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by ccured

Yellow team threw it in the corner from just past their blue line. It crossed red half, greens blue line, and the greens red end line. Should have been icing in Olympic rules

Ok cool from that video I can't really make out who touched it, but judging by the yellow team player rushing down the ice he was probably trying to beat the puck.

[Garnet girl]

There goes his life. I would hate to be the guy that sent his head into the wall. It's all in the game but I doubt anybody that plays thinks broken neck. It was not a very high velocity hit. Often it is the neck angle caused by the head position.