The hockey world encountered a very scary scene on Tuesday as St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway was struck by a puck in the throat and needed to be immediately rushed to hospital after medical staff evaluated him on the bench:
The incident happened during the first period of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Louis Blues. Tampa Bay forward Nicholas Paul took a shot at the blueline and it rose up and struck Holloway under the chin, almost directly in his Adam's Apple. He was tended to by medical staff briefly before the game was stopped so Holloway could be stretchered off.
It's a brutally scary injury that can severely impact not only a player's career but their livelihood. If Holloway, God forbid, has a bruised windpipe, or perhaps something to do with one of the many vital arteries in the neck, no matter what it's a very tough thing to watch.
It's also another tragic injury in the season of the St. Louis Blues, as now both of their offer sheet signings are on the shelf for an extended period of time. Phillip Broberg is out 4-6 weeks after suffering an injury during the Blues/Leafs game on Nov. 2 and St. Louis is also without star forward Robert Thomas, as well as missing key defensemen Nick Leddy and Torey Krug; who is out for the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
So far this season, Holloway has been a bright spot for the Blues since signing from Edmonton in the summer; the former 14th overall pick has 4 goals and 2 assists in 12 games and looked like a solid piece of the new-look St. Louis Blues.
We here at HockeyPatrol wish nothing but a speedy and comfortable recovery for Dylan Holloway.
**UPDATE**
There has been an update regarding Dylan Holloway; he is currently being evaluated for potential damage but his airway is not obstructed:
More to come.