In a horrifying scene, a young defenseman left the ice on a stretcher after a head injury.
Justin Blais, a 17-year-old player set to be eligible in the 2026 NHL Draft, was severely injured last night in a game between the Gatineau Olympiques and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. A report from Mikael Lalancette shed light on the incident.
Blais' team, the Olympiques, was trailing 8-2 with only a few minutes left in the third period when a big scrum emerged. During the altercation, Blais fell on the ice head-first and started to convulse. After a few minutes of intervention, the medical unit placed him on a stretcher and left the ice.
In Lalancette's report, we also learned that Blais was conscious when he left.
Read the full details here:
"Very worrying scene in Baie-Comeau, Justin Blais of the Olympiques hits the ice with his head while falling during a scuffle. He goes into convulsions and must be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Fortunately, he was conscious upon his exit. Thoughts are with the @OlympiquesGAT."
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The Olympiques shared an update after the game. They revealed that Blais was taken to a local hospital for further tests, but was already "alert and responsive" at the time:
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Justin Blais, a 6-foot defenseman, scored two points in 12 games this year, his second season in the QMJHL. If he wants to pursue a hockey career, the player will need to make sure to get noticed by NHL scouts over the coming seasons. Hopefully, his injury won't affect his on-ice performances and won't take too long to recover.
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