[Newsbot]

Title: Junior hockey player in intensive care
Category: Sports
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2009-11-02 10:10:59
Canadian

[Hyack]

Thanks for posting the video Wil. That was one hell of a nasty hit. Liambas was ejected from the game and given a match penalty for boarding with 12:08 remaining in the second period.

[martin14]

Fenelli turned a second before the hit...

Not sure Liambas could have pulled up that much.

Wicked hit though, wonder how the helmet came off so fast ?

[newfette]

crazy crazy crazy

[Hyack]

His condition has been upgraded:

$1:

A junior hockey player who suffered severe head injuries after being checked into the boards during an Ontario Hockey League game had his condition upgraded from critical to serious on Tuesday.

Ben Fanelli, a defenceman with the Kitchener Rangers, has spent four days at Hamilton General Hospital after being injured in a Friday night home game against the Erie Otters.

The 16-year-old suffered skull and facial fractures during Friday night's 4-0 win over the Otters when he was checked by Erie's Michael Liambas.

Fanelli's helmet broke and flew off as his head, which appeared to strike the metal partition framing the glass at the Zamboni entrance.

Liambas, 20, was in tears as he watched Fanelli twitch and froth at the mouth before being rushed to hospital.

Fanelli was flown to Hamilton General Hospital after being taken to a local hospital in Kitchener.

"A lot of guys were crying," teammate Chris McKinnon told CBC News. "You know, you never want to see that happen to anyone, whether it's a friend or not. We're praying for him."

Rangers players are playing tribute to the rookie defenceman by stitching pieces of his jersey onto the insides of their sweaters.

The Rangers are offering psychological counselling to their players. Fanelli's teammates hope to visit him soon soon in hospital.

Liambus has been suspended until a hearing, which is expected to take place later this week.

[QBC]

That was a brutal hit.

[wildrosegirl]

martin14 martin14:

Fenelli turned a second before the hit...

Not sure Liambas could have pulled up that much.

Wicked hit though, wonder how the helmet came off so fast ?

I'm inclined to agree. I've watched it about 10 times now and it looks like it was just a very unfortunate hit. Hard, fast, clean, and just as he turned..

Sad, scary and I can't imagine what his family's going through, but it looks to me like it was "just one of those things". I don't think he deserves a suspension.

[JustKate]

Prayer's up for this kid. God I hope he's okay.

[Hyack]

The OHL just announced the suspension of Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters for the remainder of the season.....

[sandorski]

Hyack Hyack:

The OHL just announced the suspension of Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters for the remainder of the season.....

This is tragic, but that suspension is BS. It's pretty clear the guy turned his back at the very last moment. I can accept a Charging penalty, but there was no way to avoid "Boarding" in that situation.

[martin14]

Hyack Hyack:

The OHL just announced the suspension of Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters for the remainder of the season.....

Sorry, can't understand why.

is there some official investigation to read ?

[Choban]

Looks like an accident to me, Fanelli saw him coming and turned his back, equipment did't do it's job (weather unstrapped or just faulty I'm not sure)
Bad news all around though, and cretainly a parents worst nightmare.