Four stitches, Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt confirmed with a shrug. "Comes with the territory," he said. "Just deal with it."
When Witt, the 32-year-old veteran, was struck by the puck on his neck below his left ear during the Islanders game in Washington last week, it was a reminder that hockey players bleed more than other professional athletes.
Witt said he wouldn't be able to guess how many stitches he has taken in his career, though his experience (starting his 12th season in the league) and his job description ("Block the puck") make him a candidate for the team lead in stitches. Maybe his first experience with being sewed up on a rink--he was 9 years old, playing tag with a friend in a public skating session, when "the kid ran over my hand; I didn't like that"--somehow forecast his vocation as a pro hockey player.
"We are susceptible to cuts," he said. "Pucks, sticks. And stuff if moving so fast. No chance to react, really."
The reaction actually comes from fellows such as Islanders head athletic trainer Garrett Timms, "the first responder," as he described himself, when a player goes down with injury. Timms is the fellow who appears on the ice, towel in hand, to staunch the bleeding and evaluate the damage.
There are "worst-case scenarios," he said, when he may have to call for an ambulance or see that the player gets timely care from the team physician, though often Timms can literally patch things up himself. Gause patches, thick smears of petroleum jelly, and an anti-bacterial spray on the jersey "if the player has blood all over him," to guard against the referee ordering the player out of the game.
"I guess," said Timms, whose training includes witnessing surgery, "you have to have an affinity for blood" to do his job. Certainly, he has treated much worse than the recent Witt cut, as when a Bridgeport player took a puck in the mouth.
And, most unsettling of all, when Timms witnessed the Clink Malarchuk scare. Timms, who grew up in the Buffalo area, was a spectator at the March 22, 1989 game between the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues when St. Louis' Steve Tuttle and Buffalo's Uwe Krupp collided in the goal mouth in front of Sabres goalie Malarchuk.
Tuttle's skate caught Malarchuk on the neck, slicing open his interior carotid artery. As his blood pooled alarmingly on the ice, Malarchuk managed to leave on his own power, assisted by Buffalo trainer Jim Pizzutelli. There were reports of seven fans fainting, two suffering heart attacks and two teammates vomiting.
Pizzutelli, a former Army medic who had served in Vietnam, was credited with saving Malarchuk's life by pinching off the bleeding until doctors could suture the wound, and Malarchuk returned to practice in four days.
"A quarter inch of steel," Timms said of the razor-sharp hockey skates. "If you think it cant' happen, it can."
Clearly, these guys can deal with four lousy stitches.
Comments (43)
When the Isles play the Canes on Saturday, it will be Carolina's 6th game in 9 days. Also, they're playing the Canadians the night before. Very similar situation to when the Isles got blown out by Toronto.
GO ISLES!!
Good point "Simon Fan" but do not forget that they are 6-1-3.....
They are a talented team that can fill the net !
Garth Snow was just interviewed on the phone by Al and Stan in the Rags pre-game.........They are smooching up to the Isles start. Like what Snow said: " We have a long way to go. We can get better. We have good chemistry and good character!"
We need to be better on the 5-5 b/c our special teams will not stay in the top 5 all year!
HOW GREAT IS MSG NEW PRE GAME: They talk about all three locals as well as other teams.
Al Trautwig: " Islanders are simply GOOD!" and he hates the Isles!
This whole Scotty Gmez coming to NY is funny. The guy lived in NY while playing for the Devils. It is not like he came from Moose Jaw!
Kudos to Cincy... good call on Dawes!
While you were all posting videos -- great stuff, and I have to admit, those two Rangers commercials were very funny -- I was schlepping all over the place trying to find a DP jersey. I guess it's good news for the franchise that the shelves at several Modell's have been picked clean of Isles stuff. Anyway, I am going to have to simply have the blank jersey I bought at the Isles store lettered for my nephew. I LOVE the Gillies and Simon suggestions.... both tempting, but I am going to go with DP. (If I'd gotten GIllies, I could have told my nephew that if anybody brings up Terry O'Reilly, he should say "O'Reilly's a p___y!" However, my sister would not approve.)
FYI, naughty words now cause posts to get held up... The first time I tried to post the above comment, I spelled out the word with the underlines in it, and my post was blocked "subject to approval."
KH: they sell dp jerseys at the nhl store in manhattan if you happen to go out there.
KH....Thee only thing between you and man b^^bs is Brodeur standing on his head!!! LOL
Rivercitysports.com is where I get all my hockey stuff!!!
Good job on your nephews jersey. Kids love jerseys!
SHOCKER: Hollweg just hit a guy from behind. I hate that chiken sh^t!
Haven't been to the blog in a few weeks, I guess we've figured out who this John Jeansonne is since then?
If Trautwig said the "Islanders are good".... I totally diagree. The Islanders have been dominated at even strength and have been lucky enough to face some seriously flawed goaltending. The Isles will sink, they're a bad team, IMO. One thing you have going is that Guerin and Comrie are very good October hockey players.
Islanders have faced flawed goaltending??????
Hendrik ? Brodeur?
are you really that stupid? Good thing you posted Anon, moron!
Funny Rags win one of past 5 and the trolls come out!!!
GO ISLANDERS !!!
I'll just say this -- I wear as a badge of honor that I would rather go by "Miss KH" for a week than ever root for the Rangers!
Must have been a strange experience watching that game, eh, Steady?
Thanks to all for the info on where to buy jerseys.
Who is John Jeansonne? Pretty stomach turning stuff. Sounds like the fans got the worst of it.
Anyway, I do have distinct memory where my Dad finally talked my Mom into coming to a local game when we lived in Merritt, BC Canada. It was a couple of leagues below the NHL and in a small arena so you got up close and personal as a fan. That night an all out brawl broke out during the warm-up, no Refs were even on the ice yet. For the most part, as a 12 year old I thought is was Frickin' awesome. There was at least a dozen all out fights going on simultaneously. But right in front of our seats a fight broke out involving my favorite player. He was tough and the visitor player was losing the fight. Then the guy went and swung his stick hard and hit my favorite player right across the side of the head. Few players wore helmets at that time and he went down hard and was out for a long time. My mom was horrified as the guy was out for a long time. He did live and played again a few games later. But I heard later that the visitor player was banned from hockey for life. I don't think we got my Mom out to another game.
Kevin T.
Good morning, Miss KH :)
Btw., standings in EC: 15. Atlanta, 14. Buffalo, 13. New Jersey, 12. Rangers
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark! (yes but who cares... we just need two points on Saturday and will be fine :)
Again KH it was just business. I did not root for the Rags or cheer when they scored. I saw a good play and took it. Simply business, got to put my heart aside. Only time I would not jump on a good wager, is if it is at MY teams expense. I hate the Devils just as much as the rags even though I have bcome friends with the Pandolpho family up here in MA.
I actually got lucky. I thought they would break out offensively and they did not. Drury is non existant. Jagr finally decided to skate, but still could not light the lamp. Shanny continues to do his best Hilbert impersonation, getting chance after chance.
Bottom line this Ranger team will get better, but NO WAY are they cup contenders. Way too many holes! Maybe fully healthy they will look better. Isles really have a chance to contend with these teams! Other then Ottawa and maybe a clicking Pitt team, we can compete!
Enjoy your time in Newton. It's WICKED AWESOME ! LOL
Steady: I watched Penguins v Toronto last night in TV and Pens can be called anything but definitely not "clicking team". I know its hard to judge after one match, but when there were no Malkin and Crosby on ice, they played like an average team. Isles can compete with them!
Piero ~
I agree they are NOT clicking. What I wrote was that IF they were clicking they are a step above us in talent......"other then a clicking Pitt team" ....MEaning when clicking they are awesome. So far they look flat. Maybe I wrote it wrong.
...and maybe my english is not that good. Dont worry... :)
Actually, I was thinking that I was right that the Rangers would not break out. But I underestimated their defense, or overestimated the Devils' offense, which has mostly looked pretty good this season.
By the way, do I really have to do this for a week? Doesn't the joke kinda get old after a day? I will honor my end of the bargain, but I just raise the question.... ;-)
Read my first post KH....I said I got lucky and you were right. A bet is a bet. You can do want you want. As a gent I will never call u Miss..........You on the other hand should do what is right :)!!
I am laughing at your sign on though. Maybe we started a trend for future "bloggers" bets???..... :) Consider yourself a trend setter.
If you want to crash your car in the side of a building, put on WEEI 850 am when you hit the Mass Pyke on your way to Newton. The Chowdahs in TITLE TOWN are out in full strength.
Anyone see the Chara fight last night? Have not seen that much blood since Gillies broke Hospodrs face.
*sigh* I would rather have bet $5, frankly. Yeah, I did notice that you had said that, I was just sort of agreeing. But I was wrong about one thing... I expected Brodeur to have a dominant shutout type game, and obviously he did not, though he was better than in previous performances.
I used to listen to EEI in the car when I lived there, but back then it was fun because Boston fans were suffering. Now I am sure it would be unbearable. The one thing that they don't understand, though, is that New Yorkers don't give Boston a second thought. There's a sports rivalry, but no one in NY thinks of Boston as a rival city in any other way -- there's no comparison. But Bostonians have convinced themselves that somehow Boston is competing with NY as an important place or something. They're very provincial that way.
Yeah, Slovaks are tough guys :)
Koci thought he can fight anyone. I hope he will remember this lesson from behind eastern border :)
LOL... How appropriate that we're talking about the NY-Boston rivalry and the Slovak-Czech rivalry in the same thread....
You pegged it KH....I moved here after being married and loved Boston. Then I got to know the people. LOL
They have the biggest inferiority complex EVER. I thought after winning in 04 it would end. It did not! They are worse.
Although they lover their team, try and ask one of them who the coach of any other team is.....NO CLUE .... They know zero about other teams other then themselves and the Yankees. 99% of them have never left the MASS PYKE. :) :)
FACT: When the Boston teams are not playing, the TV ratings in MA are the lowest in the nation other then ALASKA !!!
Hmm where to start.
I posted the following on the older blog. So here:
Steady,
Too funny with all that Youtube. I was posting the one of you drunk singing WE WILL ROCK YOU as you were posting it yourself.
So can you predict me a win for Saturday and bet on it with Miss KH please?
LOL, all in good fun boys. It was actually nice watching hockey last night.
Two more things:
Cincy, great call on the kid Dawes last night. What a shot that kids got. He is going to make it interesting when the three injured guys are ready to return.
Kevin T, I would say overall the rational fans accept Tom Renney very well. The average moron fan has been calling for him to be fired since the first loss of the season. I am not big on blaming anyone outside of the players. The refs, the coaches and management when it comes down to it it's the million dollar salaries on the ice. Renney has done great things here in NY with the Rangers.
Chara fight was sick!
Steady, your hating saying the Rangers can't contend when healthy and clicking...But, I expect that from a guy that gets drunk and sings we will rock you at the coliseum. Then again you guys do the chicken dance...LOL
Talk about giving blood at the office:
Watch the second punch does it.
Announcer: Looks Like Koci is making a donation to the RED CROSS!!!!
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/10/25/lesson-dont-fight-chara/
Gotta give Koci credit. It was not the big bad Chara that did the damage. I heard Koci got his nose broke the game before and should not even of been playing. That is one tough hombre!
Too funny you posted that clip the same time as me....Wish I waited. Funnier coming from you! I thought the Kevin T in Mexico going to watch his Canucks was funny also!
By the way....The Canucks new jersey is BY FAR the coolest new jersey in the league.
Steady you are being talked about on the Rangers Blog. LOL
this will be my only commment abt the ranger blog:
they are horrible fans for the most part..most of them on the blog not all.
they blame islander fans for posting bad but its them
now they are blaming steady for writing stuff
they win a game and they fight with each other about it or they did a total 360 and was like the rangers are gonna win the cup and the divison..what a bunch of crackheads
So bootland is being waived..looks like bates is coming
Flyers looked awful last night, too...of course Nitty was in goal. But they seem to be coming back to Earth at least. Really, every team in the Atlantic looks human.
Flyers have been outshot by a lot in almost every game this year, and Biron can't possibly play lights out the whole season, can he?
Fleury is hot and cold for Pitt, and their D is beatable. They're tough to play in that they can turn it on and score a bunch out of nowhere.
The Devils just don't look like they're getting it together at all. And with Marty looking beatable, they're gonna have to buy into Sutter's system very quickly to have a chance to turn it around.
The Rangers...I have to say they're pretty scary, despite the fact that the forwards don't seem to be playing off each other at all. It's probably mostly Lundqvist, but they're shutting down teams and only have the record they do because they can't score, but that'll probably change at some point. Good D and struggling O is easier to build on than the other way around.
And the Isles, we know their story. Need to get it together 5 on 5, and need to outwork other teams to win.
Imo, the division is absolutely up for grabs this year unless one of these teams starts putting it all together sooner rather than later. None have blown me away at all so far.
Wow .... Just signed on and see I am celebrity on the dirty blog. Too funny. Guys give it a rest. Way too much going on today to even give that side a glance.
Funny thing is I post that their team is good more then they do. I have not seen so much crying since the 04 playoffs in the Bronx.
Anyway, Waking up tomorrow and heading down. Merrick I got seats for my kid and I sect 205 ..... I will look for you in pre-game behind the isles bench in a DP jersey.....correct?
I cannot do the beers thing, b/c it is just me and the little guy!
We need a big TWO POINTS tomorrow night! I think this is a very important STATEMENT GAME against a very good team.
TWO POINTS BOYS............LETS GET TWO !!!
What's the deal with Bootland/Bates?
Does anybody know if the NHLPA would allow Bates to spend "REHAB" time in the AHL without having to clear waivers.
I know that in MLB you can send a vet to the minors for rehab withuot having him clear waivers. Why not in hockey? (If that's the case)
Unless Snowlan thinks that Bates can come back and contribute tomorrow I don't see the point in exposing Bootland to waivers.... I'd much rather have Bates go down and play 5-7 games with Comeau, Tambellini and the other guys competing.
He can be a contributor to this team, but I'd reather not see guys like Johnson and Hilbert lose ice time... and if he's only going to play a 6 minute a game 4th line role... why even bother. Let him get his legs and his game back in the AHL if possible...
Is losing Bates to the waiver trollers such a bad thing anyway?
Sometimes I wonder if the New England Mafia (I think that is a Steady term) show some favoritism to guys who like their clams in cream.
Let's hope that Bates is okay, and can get back some of the magic he showed when he got to Uniondale. Or at least help lower the even strength goals against numbers.
WOW!! That Chara / Koci brawl looked more like an interogation on the TV show "24" ...
... and to think my brother and I used to feel that Chara needed to watch some vintage Gillies, Nystrom, Howatt, Vukota, Curran, "Bomber" and Pilon vidoes back in the day.
He was just starting to get there when we traded him away for ..."what's that guy's name again?" ;)
I know that I don't have to tell anybody tomorrow's a big game tomorrow. Not just because it's an intra-conference game, but b/c of the long layoff. It will also give the Isles a chance to measure up against a very good team. Not to mention another long layoff inbetween games.
There's lots of talk about the Chowder heads up in New England. I know what you guys mean. Boston area fans are horrible "Winners" .. You'd expect them to be a little more humble after having long histories of championship droughts. But when they win they always have to measure themselves up against NY.
That NY envy is not uncommon ... I'd like to point to our neighbors to the South. Philly. Met fans probably already know this, but when Philly teams are winning they are the WORST people to be around. My buddy Joe from Philly is a horrible Winner ... and they haven't even won anything yet. When ever the Eagles beat the Giants or the Jets ... my phone will ring within a minute ... I'm a Yankee fan and he still had to call me about Philly knocking out the Mets on the last day of the regular season just to bust my horns.
This coming from a guy who decided to be a Yankee fan for a day during game 7 of the 2001 World Series ( He said for NY b/c of 911)... After the loss I told him no more favors. LOL!!
I called him 2 or 3 years ago just minutes after the Eagles were eliminated in the playoffs to give it back to him .. and he was really quiet ... I said ... Joe .. Where are you ... it's so quiet? He said he was at the Stadium ... LMAO!!...
Oh, and don't let me get started on the Flyers ... two seasons ago when they were tearing it up and the Isles didn't make the playoffs ... I never heard the end of it. Last season ... he brought up the Flyers only once when they started to look good after it didn't matter anymore.
So my fellow Islander fans suffering through a New England Championship Oasis... hang in there ... I deal with Philly fans invading Central New Jersey that boast about "Philly this and Philly that" even when Philly teams continue to break their hearts. They even think they have better pizza than NY.
I really hate to see how they are when they actually win something. I guess that is what you guys are dealing with up in the Boston area.
Go Isles!!
Steady, you've got great seats for tomorrow. I could wear my Weinhandl jersey and be easy to spot; I think I''m the only one with one of those (I was also the only one with a Wayne Merrick #11 jersey years ago!). In any event, I should be there before the game with my girls taking pictures--and I really don't drink much these days, so no worry on the beers.
Speaking of seats, it's always fascinated me about how different the game of hockey can appear depending upon where you sit. Each seat location offers a truly unique perspective of the game--with its pros and cons. For example, sitting high up can give you a great appreciation of the angles and spacing of the game--including the ability of a great skater to close space, and how close each pass can be to being picked off by a wouldbe attacker. But at this height, you really don't feel any of the physical action. Conversely, the game's speed, player reflexes, and sheer physicality is felt best right on the glass--but God help you seeing what happens when play is the other end of the ice. Similarly, end zone seats are wonderful if the play is in your end, especially on power plays, but agaian, good luck watching the game at the other end--especially if you have to look through the netting.
I moved my seats this season from the corner in 318 to the blue line in 322--and I'm still adjusting to how I watch the game. Whereas the corner seats allowed me to keep the entire ice in view and see action behind the play (e.g., Simon's head chop last year)--watching from the blue line means I'm missing a lot of mischief behind the main action--although now I can actually see goals at the other end. I also have less appreciation for the east-west spacing compared to the corner seats.
In any event, seating is one thing Islander fans should appreciate. For all the shortcomings of the NVMC, and assuming your seat is not broken, the sightlines are awesome from any spot in the arena and I would argue are probably among the best in the league if most arenas resemble the relatively newer ones like Philly, DC, Buffalo.
I don't care much about the Boston Brouhaha going on right now.
I have feeling about this Islanders team this season. This team is good and freakin due to have a HUGE season.
I am more of a baseball and Hockey fan. I don't care for football and can't quite understand how someone can switch off a hockey game for a football game. It's like watching a sport played at light speed for one that moves at a crawl.
Hockey has better hitting.
Much more speed.
Takes someone who can make quick decisions on the fly.
I like Baseball for it's strategic play. It's a great a mindgame all around.
I'd love for the Islanders to go far and stomp on the Bruins. I probably hate the Bruins more than I do the Rags. I'm not asking for the Mets to win the world series or for anyone to move mountains. I'm not even asking for another dynasty.
Just give me a year that's comparable to 93'. In taking out Pittsbrugh after Turgeon went down we were the unheralded champs that season.
PLEASE TED NOLAN!!!!!
GIVE US A YEAR TO BE PROUD ONE. ONE WHERE WE CAN HOLD OUT HEADS HIGH JUST FOR ONE SUMMER!!!!!!
Am I crazy or was Bates drafted and play a lot of CENTER? Same for Hilbert correct ? They are both natural Centers correct???? Why in Gods name wouldn't you replace Bates with Hilbert?
To add a little salt on my wounds, BC is now playing exciting and dominant College Football and the Celtics are on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the best new team.......
Just shoot Me !!!
That means the Celtics are going down.
The Sports Illustrated curse!!!!
I'm just sick of suffering through this crap up here while the Mets and Islanders have been ripping out my heart and spitting on it every year.
A beating to Carolina might ease my suffering a bit.
Merrick - great point about different perspectives. Last year was the first time I ever got to sit right up against the glass. It was funny to see Blake get checked along the boards right in front of me when he was turning back and forth the way he always does. It was like seeing a bug get crushed along a windshield. Of course he landed on his feet and kept moving. For such a small guy, he could absorb a hit better than most people twice his size.
Merrick,
Great point about seating perspective. I've been to Carolina and DC recently and they are both very good places to watch hockey. The positive thing about the NVMC was it's vertical architecture. It was also a negative. You have a nice perspective from almost any seat in the house, but because of the angle at which the arena slopes there isn't any leg room... and it always feels cramped.
Maybe I just need to lose some weight.
It's still a great place to see a game though... especially a playoff game... when the place is rockin'.
But a nice arena like the verizon center wouldn't be bad... especially if they put it on top of a LIRR stop.
Steady,
This is Redskin country... and I'm a giant fan. Every season starts with "WHY WE ARE GONG TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL". Now they are 4-2 seven games into the season and it's "WHY WE SUCK".
They think that every season is going to be a Joe Gibbs 14-2 Superbowl year. Everybody has their chest out and a flag flying in front of their house... by October the UVA and VT flags are waving... and by November it's back to Dale Earnhart Jr...
Cut the chowderheads a break. they waited a long time for this... and when it's over that place will most likely be swallowed up by another 100 years of inept sports franchises.
The B's have invoked the hockey equivilent of THE CURSE by trading away Joe Thornton. The CELTICS... well... in an effort to not get thrown off the blog I will leave what could be construed as a racist remark to myself... but I think you get my point...
That leaves the CHEATERS, and the sox... how long before the Poppy Juice stories start to surface? That will be THE PERFECT STORM... and Schilling is always just a microphone away from tearing that team apart... ask Mitch Williams.
I just can't get behind a team who's MVP doesn't P both sides of the game. But that's a problem with the League, not the team.
Keep your head up... and represent with pride! 69 (TWICE FOR YOU), 81, 82, 83, 84, 86...2008? That's some good stuff.
Wayne Merrick jersey...Now that is Hard Core!!!
I will be looking and should be there early enough to come shake your hand and say hello.
The Maven in me says this game is going to OT !!!! Don't worry, my wallet has not spoken about the game ;) !
JP ~
I played the "Cheaters" card as much as possible. Lasted all of 6 days until they dismantled the Chargers and have not looked back since. They are crushing teams. Running up scores.
I have a deal with God.....Jets can lose the rest of the games except Dec 16th at Foxboro where they shock the nation. :) :)
Friday after Turkey day you guys should all come up for the Isles game. Good place to see a game, and Bruins tickets are easy to come by!
huh?