Ex-NHL player Stephane Veilleux details his horrific car crash

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Daniel Lucente
September 2, 2024 (2:04 PM)

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Another driver struck former NHLer Stephane Veilleux which debilitated him, and he has finally opened up about the whole situation.

NHL forward Stephane Veilleux considers himself extremely fortunate to be alive following a horrific car crash he was in.

Stephane Veilleux has been through a terrible experience following an incident where a teen driver of a Toyota Highlander ran through a stop on June 19, smashing into Veilleux's Nissan Rogue. The impact gave Veilleux an immediate sense of dread since he knew he couldn't move his neck, and it so happened his instincts were right.

After several months in the hospital and numerous X-rays, he was diagnosed as having a number of fractures in the C1 vertebra. He was quickly put into "immobility" to prevent any further damage.

"I'm lucky to not be paralyzed or worse," said Veilleux as per Mike Russo of The Athletic.

Fortunately for Stephane Veilleux, he was in such a position that he could seek help from his former team, the Minnesota Wild. Their intervention proved quite critical in the decision to put him in a halo to save him from surgery that could have left him with limited neck mobility for life.

Now, Stephane Veilleux has four pins drilled into his skull and will likely have to wear the halo for at least three months. It's a huge struggle to put up with. His mobility is drastically restricted, really inhibiting him from doing much of anything, such as even lying down to sleep.

Stephane Veilleux is grateful for the outcome, realizing how much worse things could have been, especially when considering the very tragic story from over the weekend when brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died after being struck by a suspected drunk driver. Veilleux says he can't help but think of how close he could have come to a similar type of fate. He says his family is very lucky it wasn't any worse.

"You think about that whole family now and what's ahead for them, and think, �That could have been my family,'» Veilleux says. «Their kids are going to grow up without a father, and that could have been mine. That's why I'm focusing on gratefulness."

Stephane Veilleux's determination and resilience in the face of such adversity are nothing short of inspiring. Just as he did throughout his NHL career, Veilleux is confronting this challenge head-on, with the same courage and perseverance.

"Look, life is hard. Everyone is battling something. Every one of us. This is my battle now. I am optimistic. I'm staying positive. It is a little scary to know what the outcome could be if I need surgery, but I'm built to be strong."

We are wishing him a full and swift recovery.

Source: Hockey Feed
Former NHLer Stephane Veilleux opens up about devastating car crash.