Junior Player Nearly Loses His Life Following A Skate Was Deliberately Kicked To His Neck
An unsettling incident occurred during a Junior C hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta.
Junior Player Nearly Passes On Ice
In Edmonton, Alberta, an unsettling incident occurred during a Junior C hockey game. Richie Compo, a player for the Junior Braves in the Noralta Junior C Hockey League, was intentionally kicked in the neck with a skate by another player. Describing the traumatic event, Compo said he felt no pain but believed he was going to die. After the incident, he noticed he was bleeding from the neck.
"I was on the ice. He stepped on my head. I checked my neck, my hand, there was blood. So I ripped off my helmet. I looked [the opposing team's trainer] dead in the eyes [and said] 'Don't let me die. Please don't let me die. I don't want to die. There was no, no pain, it was just 'I'm dead.' That's all I could think was 'I'm dead."
The Fallout
He was immediately rushed to the hospital, receiving over a dozen stitches. Fortunately, the skate blade narrowly missed his jugular vein.
The player responsible, Nate Plaunt of the South West Zone Oil Kings, received a match penalty and is currently suspended for three games for "deliberately kicking an opponent in his neck/face area". However, this suspension may be extended pending a review. Compo's mother, Peggy McMillan, believes this punishment is insufficient.
NJHL Appologizes
She argues that if such an act were to happen outside of a hockey context, the individual would face legal charges. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, she noted that players in this age bracket, roughly 18 to 21, should know the difference between right and wrong.
"That boy looked around, lifted his leg, like a stomping motion, and right on my son's head. If this were to happen off the ice, not be a hockey player, you'd be charged. Mistake, impulsive thing, it doesn't matter. That impulsive decision coulda took my son's life. There's consequences for actions, they're not little boys...they know right from wrong."
McMillan insists that real-world consequences should be meted out for such grave actions. The police have confirmed to CTV News that they are currently investigating the matter but refrained from providing any further comments.
| POLL | ||
Should a deliberate attempt to injury another player result in criminal charges? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 54.5 % |
| No | 25 | 45.5 % |
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