Ex-NHLer Who Received Gruesome Injury Weighs In On Adam Johnson Death

The hockey world is currently grappling with the tragic death of Adam Johnson, who succumbed to injuries sustained from a skate blade accident. This event has brought back painful memories for Clint Malarchuk, a goaltender who survived a similar life-threatening injury in 1989. Malarchuk, whose carotid artery was slashed by a skate blade, has come forward to share his perspective on Johnson's incident.

The aggressive actions of their Athletics Trainer James Pizzutelli — to reach into Malarchuk's neck, pinch the severed artery with his fingertips, and keep applying pressure on the gaping wound in those initial 30 to 40 seconds — were crucial in saving the goalie's life.

Malarchuk emphasizes that such accidents are a part of the sport's inherent risks, given its speed and intensity. He expresses frustration over the speculation that the incident might have been intentional, firmly stating his belief that no player would deliberately cause such harm. His comments highlight the unfortunate reality of the sport, where accidents can happen quickly and unpredictably.

There has been a troubling undercurrent of racism in some reactions to the incident, which Malarchuk and others in the hockey community have condemned. Such attitudes are deemed unacceptable and have no place in the sport. The overall sentiment in the hockey world aligns with Malarchuk's view: the incident was a tragic accident, a product of the fast-paced and physical nature of the game, rather than a deliberate act of harm. Of course, not everyone agrees.

The community's focus is on mourning the loss of Johnson and supporting each other during this difficult time, while also acknowledging the importance of sticking to facts and rejecting baseless theories or negative speculations that can arise in such emotionally charged situations.