A scary incident in Saturday's Denver/North Dakota game saw Pioneers senior Jesse Martin, who hails from Edmonton, suffered 3 fractures to his vertebrae after being hit by North Dakota senior Brad Malone. Martin was airlifted from Grand Forks to Minneapolis where he is still in hospital.An update and the video follows...
The incident occurred in the second period of Saturday's game. USCHO posted this update on Sunday.
Here is the video of the collision:
The video shows Martin first consider making a pass, then look down and lean forward to regain control of the puck. The point of impact comes when Malone, in full flight, hits Martin while he reaches forward.
Malone was given a major penalty for charging (possibly accounting for the speed and distance traveled? we've heard that argument before) as well as a game misconduct.
Clearly an unfortunate incident although I'm not convinced there was malicious intent on Malone's part. It reminds me a bit of Doug Weight's hit on Brandon Sutter a year ago where the young player sustained a concussion after he was hit in open ice, also reaching for a puck.
If Martin, who obviously isn't at fault here either, is hit a second earlier when standing up, he gets belted and the crowd goes wild... but there probably isn't an injury.
It's just one guy's opinion but to me this is an accident all around and hopefully Martin makes a speedy and full recovery.
Jesse Martin, listed at 5'10 and 180 lbs (but I've seen 6' too) was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 7th round back in 2006. Prior to his NCAA career he played for the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL and the Tri City Storm in the USHL.
Forward Brad Malone was a 4th round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2007 and checks in at 6'2, 210 lbs.
(Photo: DU Athletics)
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