VIDEO: Another Scary Incident in NHL Puts Fans on the Edge as Player Exits After Getting Hit in the Face With the Puck

The icy battleground yet again brought the horrific memory of the mishap that claimed the lie of one of the jewels of ice hockey, Adam Johnson. During the tussle between the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Nights on 28 November, Monday transformed the ice hockey rink into a tense theater of resilience. The Calgary defenseman, Chris Tanev, suffered a serious blow on his face while tackling a shot.

Fans were left traumatized and prayed to not witness another death like that of Johnson who suffered a fatal neck injury while playing ice hockey back in October. The close duration between these two events involving Tanev and Johnson raised concerns about the players in the sport.

Risky act by Chris Tanev leads to dangerous results

As the game stepped into the final eight minutes, Tanev had taken his position on the ice hockey rink with the intention of blocking a powerful shot from the Knight’s forward William Karlsson. In this process, Tanev got hit in the face by a puck, and unable to bear the impact of the blow, he dropped to the ice and started bleeding. 

The moment left fans wondering whether the history of sports would be witnessing another tragic demise of a sports figure. As they held their breath eager to discover what transpires next, Tanev managed to get back on his feet.

Impressed by Tanev’s physical and mental strength left the Flames head coach Ryan Huska to share his views, “You wish that everybody has what he has. He’s got a different level of courage that if you can give a little bit of what he’s got to other guys on your team, oh man. He’s a pretty special person.” However, the player failed to take part in the game.

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The fine line between courage and danger in ice hockey

The severity of the injury was so loud that forced Tanev to leave the rink and make his way to the dressing room, as he required immediate medical attention from the Calgary staff. Hence, this event highlights the tough journey that players need to go through and the risks they expose themselves to make their team achieve glory and success.

However, amidst the celebration of bravery and courage, the focus lies on the demand for safety and precautionary measures that should be implemented as a means of honoring the dedication of the sports players towards the game. Previously, Johnson’s tragic demise during a game for the Nottingham Petgrave had prompted broad discussions about the ways to enhance player protection. However, the short span between the two accidents sheds light on the probability of no constructive results from the elaborate discussions.

The wake of back-to-back accidents on the rink involving Chris Tanev and Adam Johnson serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and brutal nature of hockey. Therefore, it is crucial for the ice hockey community to take strict actions to address the safety concerns without compromising the intensity and physicality that define the sport. 

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