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The quick response of trainers and nurses in the stands at a Sask East Hockey League game in Esterhazy on Saturday night is being credited for helping save the life of Churchbridge Imperials captain Cole Cusitar.
In the third period of Saturday night’s game between Churchbridge and Esterhazy, there was a face-off in the Esterhazy end. Off the draw, an Esterhazy player skated the puck up the ice. As that play was going on, the 35-year-old Cusitar was on the ground after having his neck slashed by a skate blade.
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“The Esterhazy player was down on his knees, frantically waving his arms trying to get the attention of the referee to blow the whistle. Once that happened, I could see Cole was down,” said Churchbridge head coach Tim Roussin, who was behind the bench when the injury happened.
The place where Cusitar was cut was half an inch away from his jugular vein.
Cole Cusitar (circled) is a member of the Churchbridge Imperials. During a game on Saturday night, Cusitar had his neck cut by a skate blade which resulted in him needing 80 stitches. (Jon Jenson/submitted)
“Once the play stopped, our trainer (Steven Shackleton) ran out onto the ice. Some of the nurses in attendance, they (also) reacted really quickly. They got him right off the ice, through the back doors of the rink and into a truck and to the hospital,” Roussin explained.
“One of the nurses who helped attend to him jumped into the penalty box, which is on the far side from the players box, and ran across the ice to help out. It was some quick thinking for sure. Certainly, I believe it helped to mitigate what could have been an absolute disaster.”
The person driving Cusitar to get further medial attention was able to get to the hospital in Esterhazy with no problems. Initially, STARS Air Ambulance was called, but it wasn’t needed.
Eighty stitches needed to close wound
Once the medical situation was more under control, Cusitar was then taken to hospital in Yorkton.
At the hospital Cusitar needed 80 stitches to close the wound.
Roussin the repair went better than doctors had initially thought.
“They had thought they were going to have to operate on him and put him under just to clean the wound of any blood and then administer all the stitches,” Roussin said.
“The cut was so deep they had to do it in several layers and then it was decided that he would just be under a local anesthetic and they would do the stitching like that.”
Roussin visited Cusitar several times in hospital before he was released on Monday.
Although the entire experience was traumatic for everyone involved, Roussin said Cusitar was in good spirits.
“He was okay. He was already asking the doctor when he can get back on the ice,” Roussin said.
“I visited him again this morning before he was discharged and he was in good spirits. He was brushing his teeth. They actually did a really nice job, the stitches look good. He’s starting to get some swelling now, but he’s anxious to get home and get on the mend and get back on the ice.”
The Churchbridge Imperials mean everything to Cusitar, according to Roussin.
“Cole is really a heart and soul guy of the team. Most of the people around there know Cole — he works hard, he’s approachable, you can talk to him about anything and he loves to talk hockey,” he said.
“I believe he was one of the first ones involved when they got the team up and running again in Churchbridge. He takes great pride in it.”
Churchbridge Imperials will now use neck guards
Roussin said the team’s game this weekend will likely be cancelled as they all continue to recover, and the next time the Imperials take the ice, everyone on the team will wear a neck guard.
Minor hockey players in Saskatchewan must wear a neck guard, but for players in a league that’s for age 18 or older, like Senior A hockey or beer leagues, it is not mandated. Hockey Saskatchewan recently expanded the use of neck guards to include all referees officiating minor hockey and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Roussin hopes his team’s stance on neck guards can be picked up by other teams.
“It’s something that we’re deciding on as a team. We’ve reached out to some suppliers. I haven’t heard of any other team in the league doing it, but I am sure a lot of guys will,” Roussin explained.
“I do hope and I do encourage any other players to take their health seriously and to wear a neck guard or even if it’s a cage — if that’s what you want to go with I’m sure there will be no judgements — especially after this incident that happened which could have been a lot worse. We just pray that we keep everybody safe,” Roussin added.
Roussin mentioned he and the rest of the players are thankful for all the messages of support they’ve received from members of the Sask. East Hockey League, and the wider hockey community.
“It was really touching with with all the responses that we got from pretty much every other team in the league.
“Word travels quickly, and … that night we weren’t even out of the dressing room and we were getting messages and calls and texts from other teams and players within the league,” Roussin said.
“As much as guys on the ice battle a lot of times, the odd times the fists fly, when an incident happens we all come together as brothers in a hockey family. It was really nice to see.”
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