College player undergoes surgery after hit

[Terry]

Gophers forward Pohl has emergency surgery after hitting head on boards

ESPN.com news services

Updated: March 18, 2008, 1:38 PM ET

Minnesota Gophers senior forward Tom Pohl was listed in fair condition Monday night after having surgery to stabilize a skull fracture and stop bleeding on his brain.

Pohl was injured Sunday night when his head hit the boards in front of the Minnesota bench during the second period of the Gophers' 3-2 double-overtime men's hockey victory at Minnesota State-Mankato.

Pohl had been knocked off his feet on a hit from Minnesota State-Mankato's Jason Wiley, who also elbowed Pohl in the head. As Pohl fell, his helmet flew off, leaving his head exposed as it made contact with the edge of the boards.

He fell face-first onto the ice, and was unconscious, bleeding from his nose and with a large gash on his forehead. The game was delayed 13 minutes as he was immobilized and wheeled off the ice on a gurney.

Pohl, 23, was airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, about 90 minutes' drive away. Wiley was given a major penalty and ejected from the game.

Minnesota coach Don Lucia drove to visit Pohl on Monday, not knowing what to expect. He found his player with eyes swollen shut and head in bandages; Pohl, however, wanted to know the outcome of the game.

"He was happy that we won," Lucia told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "He was concerned about that."

Pohl's teammates did not know the extent of his condition until they arrived back in Minneapolis early Monday morning. "It's real scary to see," senior defenseman Derek Peltier told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "He was full of energy and he added a lot of heart to the team. We are definitely going to miss him."

Pohl is a member of a prominent Minnesota hockey family. His father, Jim, is a former coach at Red Wing (Minn.) High School. His brother, John, is a former Gophers All-American and now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His sister-in-law is Krissy Wendell, also a former Gophers All-American, as well as a former Olympian and women's hockey player of the year.

John Pohl was given permission by the Maple Leafs to leave the team, and flew to Rochester to join his brother.

"Basically, they've done the surgery and if things go the way they're supposed to, Tom will improve daily," Jim Pohl told the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle on Monday. "It's all positive right now. It's positive in the sense that he's with us and they feel they successfully completed the surgery."

In a statement, Minnesota State-Mankato athletic director Kevin Buisman said: "... We want to express our deepest care and concern for Tom Pohl and his family. They will be in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to monitor his medical progress, and we want to extend our best wishes for a complete and full recovery."

Tom Pohl is not as gifted as his older brother John, but accepted his role on the team as a fourth-liner and penalty-killer, and is noted for his attitude and energy.

"Tommy is a positive kid and a tremendous student, everything you want in a student-athlete," Lucia said in the Pioneer Press. "I've told kids to stay close to Tommy, because some day you're going to be working for him."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3300038&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[Fisherman93]

helmets that are propely fitted.. don't fly off the head.

[Terry]

Pohl: It's great to be home

Jim Johnson The Republican Eagle

Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008

With a 7-inch scar across his forehead and a shaved head, Red Wing's Tom Pohl was more than grateful for all the support he's received as he talked about his career-ending head injury Tuesday at his dad Jim's house, which had a table full of flowers, balloons and numerous other tokens of support.

"It's great to be home," Tom said.

Pohl returned home late Friday afternoon after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain in a playoff game against Minnesota State University on March 16. The injury, which ended his collegiate hockey career, occurred in the second period, but Pohl can only remember up to the first period.

He couldn't recall anything from the second period or from his trip to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. At the hospital, he partially snapped out of his blackout and remembers doctors asking for his consent for surgery.

"That was scary," the 23-year-old said.

After surgery, Tom was greeted by family and friends and was "grateful to be alive and have everyone there for me."

Included in that group of supporters was his oldest brother Johnny, who was granted a family leave from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and another older brother Mark, whose hockey career also ended with an injury.

Mark was playing for Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League in February 2001 when he suffered a spinal cord injury after crashing into the boards.

Support has come from so many people, in fact, that Tom is struggling with responding to it all.

"That's the hard thing for me. I wish I could get back to them but I've been so busy getting rest and recovering," he said. "Above all, I'm just shocked at how kind people have been."

Support also came from Mavericks sophomore Jason Wiley, who caused the injury by elbowing Pohl into the boards. Wiley visited the senior forward in the hospital.

"He was really shaken, 'cause obviously he felt really bad," Tom said. "I'm sure some people are hard on him and mad about the play, but it was really flukey. I feel bad for him and what he's going through."

What Tom has to go through will be a struggle, especially since he can't join his teammates Saturday in Worchester, Mass. The Gophers play Boston College in a first-round contest in the Mideast Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Now he's focused on a full recovery and getting his career back on track.

"I'm looking to healing and having having a normal life," said Pohl, who graduated from the U of M in three years and is currently in graduate school. "Right now, the goal is getting a career and using my brain.

"The most important thing is to do well in my academics, find a job and hope I do well there."

Well spoken from a three-time U of M Scholar Athlete and WCHA Scholar Athlete who's also hoping to make a fast recovery.

"I'm ahead of pace. A lot of people who have that brain surgery are on their backs at nine days and I've already been home for three. I consider myself very lucky," Tom said.

Lucky with a 7-inch reminder he's already lighthearted about.

"Sure, I look like a freak show right now, but with time I'll get back to normal," he said.

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[chaytercon1]

I don't what the standard is in NCAA hockey with an elbow but most don't get you tossed out of a game. I bet that had Pohl had his helmet on properly the guy that threw the elbow would've received a minor for relbowing and that's it.