March 5, 200620 yr Hurricanes' Cole to miss 6-to-8 weeks with fractured vertebra PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Carolina left wing Erik Cole will miss at least the rest of the regular season with a compression fracture in a vertebra in his neck caused when he was driven headfirst into the boards by Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik during a 7-5 Hurricanes victory Saturday night. Cole, tied for second on the team in scoring, will be out at least 6-to-8 weeks -- a major loss for what currently is the team with the NHL's best record. The Hurricanes have not ruled out Cole returning for the playoffs, which begin in mid-April. More at the link. ******************************************************* This really sucks, I hope the Canes can go on without him. First and foremost, I hope Cole heals. Secondly, I cannot wait to see him back on this ice - he is a fun player to watch.
March 5, 200620 yr Well if he broke his neck and is forecast to be out 6 to 8 weeks, he should consider himself fortunate. Hopefully he recovers and comes back as just as good a player. The Canes are a very fun team to watch.
March 5, 200620 yr Author The time frame seems to vary on who wrote the article. In Raleigh, they are reporting a minimum of 2 months, so we will see.
March 5, 200620 yr Damn. I like Cole a lot, and this is a huge blow to the Canes. Hopefully he recovers well. Ugh, as a hockey player i hate when this stuff happens - injuries from collisions involving the boards.
March 6, 200620 yr I would say it was "questionable" but not dirty. I don't think he meant to catch him like he did, but he meant to hit him.
March 6, 200620 yr Author He came from behind and left his feet to make the hit. The guy that made the hit did the same thing to a player in the AHL (can't remember against who). I saw a video of the hit (from the Pittsburgh sports report) and it looked painful.
March 6, 200620 yr Those are the times in which I wish there was a rule that kept the person who committed the penalty out of games as long as the guy who got hurt was out. Its one thing to play tough, its another to take a cheap shot and hurt someone.
March 7, 200620 yr not only is this a blow for the canes, but also my fantasy team. Hope he gets better soon and it is not that serious
March 7, 200620 yr I saw something else from earlier in teh game and was only half paying attention. He rammed him pretty good.
March 7, 200620 yr Reports from Raleigh say that the guy got a 3 game suspension. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> When will the NHL ever learn?? :headshake :headshake :headshake Bertuzzi gets about 30 games for ending Steve Moore's career, and now this? I'm not a fan of hockey, but this is ridiculus. Some guy who drills a player with literally, the intent to kill, gets off with only a 30 game suspension. BULLs***.
March 7, 200620 yr QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Mar 6, 2006 -> 09:56 PM) When will the NHL ever learn?? :headshake :headshake :headshake Bertuzzi gets about 30 games for ending Steve Moore's career, and now this? I'm not a fan of hockey, but this is ridiculus. Some guy who drills a player with literally, the intent to kill, gets off with only a 30 game suspension. BULLs***. To compare this to the Bertuzzi incident is ignorant, this wasn't intentional, and yes that's a huge difference. I saw the play, it was a boarding call, but it wasn't on purpose. It happens. It sucks, but it happens.
March 7, 200620 yr On an unrelated note, you gotta feel for this guy; Anaheim prospect Jordan Smith has permanently lost the sight in his left eye, effectively ending his hockey career. The 20-year-old, second round pick of the 2004 Draft was struck directly in the eye by a shot that deflected off the stick of teammate Kent Huskins in an AHL game ten days ago. The accident left him with a severely lacerated eye and multiple fractures in the orbital bone. "It has been an emotional time for our team and all our players," Coach Kevin Dineen of the Portland Pirates of the AHL, said in a statement. "They all realize how fragile and incredibly special their playing careers are." The Ducks will honor the remainder of the contract that Smith signed, which was a 3-year/$600,000 deal. Mar. 7 - 5:59 am et
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