Tucker Tynan
The game between the IceDogs and the London Knights was marred by the horrific freak accident which took place in the second period. Photo: Twitter/Chasing The Puck

KEY POINTS

  • Tynan's leg bled profusely after being cut by a skate one minute into the second period
  • The shocking scene was caught on camera  showing the goaltender lying on the ice with a stream of blood
  • The gruesome accident left spectators and players in a state of shock 

A 17-year-old hockey player for the Niagara IceDogs suffered a freak accident on Friday after colliding with a London Knights player in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Team goalie, Tucker Tynan's leg bled profusely after being cut by a skate one minute into the second period.

The shocking scene was caught on camera and showed the goaltender lying on the ice with a stream of blood bursting from his deeply lacerated leg. Paramedics and trainers raced on the ice to cover the deep gash.

Officials said that an opposing player hit Tynan's major artery in the leg, he was rushed to the hospital for a multi-hour surgery. Team officials of the Niagara IceDogs announced that the operation was successful and he is now in stable condition.

The gruesome accident left spectators and players in a state of shock and quickly trended in various social media platforms. Subsequently, The Ontario Hockey League canceled the game.

Over the years, various accidents have hounded the sport. On March 22, 1989, during a match between the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, Steve Tuttle severed Clint Malarchuk's carotid artery with his skate. Miraculously he survived after hours in the operating room.

A similar accident happened with the Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik on a game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 10, 2008. Teammate Olli Jokinen accidentally slashed Zednik's neck with his skate. It was reported that he lost five units of blood. Luckily he survives the ordeal and resumes his career weeks after the accident.

On January 15, 1968, when players still played without helmets, Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Star died days after a gnarly collision with an opposing player. He instantly lost consciousness, then woke up again and said "never again" before falling into a coma and losing his life in the hospital thirty hours after the initial hit.