((HT: TSN/CSN))Philadelphia Phantoms forward Garrett Klotz ((pictured, thanks TSN/Comcast Sportsnet)) left the ice on a stretcher Friday after a vicious fight with Kevin Westgarth of Manchester ended with the winger suffering from a seizure. Klotz was immediately taken to a hospital, where it was revealed he suffered lacerations but no fractures to his face. He was fully responsive and alert while being treated.
"It was a scary incident," said Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "But we just got word from our doctor that he's clear - there's no facial fracture. They're stitching him up - his jaw is fine and there's no tooth fracture or anything. It's a scary ordeal, but he's going to be fine."
Immediately following the opening faceoff, Klotz and Westgarth dropped the gloves. With their helmets off, the two went toe-to-toe at center ice, exchanging glancing blows. The duel shifted towards the Monarchs' bench and Westgarth steadied before unleashing several haymakers to the head. Klotz was hit with an uppercut that caught him off guard and Westgarth continued with a pair of pin-point rights, the latter sending Klotz to the ice.
On his way down, Klotz appeared to land awkwardly on the boards. Though he did not hit his head on the ice, his knees were shaking uncontrollably and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as the stretcher quickly made its way towards the bloodied player. Westgarth concernedly looked on from the penalty box as several Phantoms helped Klotz onto the stretcher and off to a local hospital.
On his way down, Klotz appeared to land awkwardly on the boards. Though he did not hit his head on the ice, his knees were shaking uncontrollably and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as the stretcher quickly made its way towards the bloodied player. Westgarth concernedly looked on from the penalty box as several Phantoms helped Klotz onto the stretcher and off to a local hospital.
Both fighters stood at 6-foot-5 with Westgarth weighing in at 247 pounds and Klotz at 235.
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1 comment:
I dunno, I am a huge NHL fan who has grown up with hockey my entire life, and I would not even have entertained this thought a year ago but, maybe it is time to band fighting in the NHL. At least maintaining that fighters need to keep their helmets on. I think it makes Americans (whos support is essential to the NHL) feel the game is too barbaric, and that if fighting was gone then maybe the sport would grow down south. Eliminating fighting would dramatically change the landscape of the game, but maybe it is time to at least entertain the possibly.
Adam K.
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