A Close Call for Ilya Protas: The Impact of a Blindside Hit
In a recent AHL game, the Hershey Bears faced a challenging return from their All-Star break, suffering a heavy 6-1 defeat to the Laval Rocket. But the score wasn't the only concern; the Bears also narrowly avoided losing one of their star players to a potentially serious injury.
With just over six minutes left in the second period, Ilya Protas, a key prospect for the Washington Capitals, found himself in a vulnerable position. As he maneuvered through the neutral zone, Rocket forward Tyler Thorpe came in hot from Protas' blind side, aiming to send him crashing into the boards. Protas managed to dodge most of the impact, but Thorpe's hard hit connected with his left leg, sending him tumbling to the ice.
A video of the hit, posted by Bears Hockey Nation, shows the intensity of the moment. Video Link
Seven seconds later, play was halted, and Shawn Fliszar, the Bears' head athletic trainer, rushed onto the ice to attend to Protas. Fortunately, Protas was able to get up on his own, but not before voicing his frustration towards the Rocket bench as he made his way off the ice.
The incident sparked fears among fans and the Bears' coaching staff, including head coach Derek King. King expressed his concern, saying, "He was having a great game, controlling the play and making things happen. I was worried this might be another long-term injury, but he showed resilience and finished the game."
But here's where it gets controversial... The Rocket's aggressive play didn't stop with Protas. Andrew Cristall, the team's leading scorer, also endured several cheap shots and hits throughout the game, according to Bears Hockey Nation. Tweet Link
The Rocket's tactics seemed to boil over in the third period, resulting in a chaotic 96 penalty minutes being doled out between both teams. Tweet Link
And this is the part most people miss... The officials' handling of the game's intensity left much to be desired, with five Hershey Bears players receiving misconduct penalties, including Ivan Miroshnichenko, Louie Belpedio, Grant Cruikshank, and Dalton Smith. Justin Nachbaur, a Bears forward, was ejected from the game for physically abusing an official and subsequently suspended for three games by the AHL.
The Bears will now look to bounce back from this challenging game as they continue their four-game road trip in Canada, taking on the Belleville Senators on Saturday night.
