Head First Horror

Fraser has been making a name for himself playing up an age group at Under 16 but the physical difference is dramatic.

The photo is unclear but midway through the second period he was on the receiving end of a dirty hit from behind to the back of the head that drove his head into the rink-side stanchion.  Fraser, wearing the red number 3 shirt went to the ice like a rag doll and I knew he was hurt for he never stays down after a hit.  

The hit was right in front of the opposition bench as you can see and Jessie, who coaches the opposition also coaches Mimi for Scotland Ladies and when he leapt the board to assist Fraser even before the whistle was blown the gravity of the hit was evident.  

Jessie was down on the ice and slowly I saw Fraser's arms come up, our net minder raced from the net up to where Fraser was still prone on the ice and she too was down, the concern evident but after a few minutes he sat up and very slowly got to his feet and skated slowly to the bench to the rap of the sticks from both teams, a sign of respect for his toughness.

Once on the bench his helmet came off and he took on some water I signalled across the ice but a shake of the head indicated he was hurt and he sat back off the rail with one of the coaching staff and the concussion protocal was run.  He seemed to be ok from what I could see albeit from the opposite side of the rink and his helmet went back on and and he returned to the line and back to the ice without missing a shift.  

By the middle of the third period he was back off with his helmet off.  After the game I was told he complained of feeling a bit dizzy and a bit sick so had sat the remaider of the game.  A great win on the road for the team today but that is secondary.  

Fraser seems fine but to quantify how hard and how dirty this hit was he has been left with the imprint of his helmet on his forehead where he was driven into the boards.

As a parent you do everything to protect your children but you cannot wrap them in cotton wool but when they choose to play such physical and fast as ice hockey there will be days like today, not many I hope but today could have ended very differently and thankfully Fraser is none the worse except for a headache and a helmet imprint