Jenni Hiirikoski recovered very quickly from a dangerous-looking situation.
Jenni Hiirikoski, 35, is the long-time captain of the Women’s Lions. He is playing his seventh season in Luleå HF of the Swedish league. PDO
– It was a wild night yesterday, Jenni Hiirikoski wrapped up his dramatic Sunday.
The second final match of the Swedish league was coming to an end when the opponent’s skate cut a cut on the Finnish hockey player’s neck.
– I was aiming for the puck and Kurot and the opponent fell next to me. I realized pretty quickly that it was going bad, Hiirikoski recalls the situation to Iltalehte.
– I drifted to the end board and raised my hands to my neck and realized that now blood was coming from a not so good place.
Hiirokoski got the help of the players and the referee, who immediately began to cover the wound with a towel. It was also important that he didn’t meet shocked looks, but everyone who came next to him focused on making sure that he was as well as possible.
– Yes, it was a really scary situation, but I tried to stay calm and communicate with those around me, says Hiirikoski.
– I have heard afterwards that the opponent’s players had immediately helped me on my back. The referee was also constantly applying pressure to the wound until I was carried out of the rink.
While lying on the ice, Hiirikoski was not only worried about himself, but also his loved ones, because he knew they were watching the game. He asked his good friend, the opposing team Brynäs IF, to come over by Rosa Lindstedtwho was given the task of contacting the people at home watching the TV and delivering a reassuring message to them.
“I don’t want to criticize anything”
Hiirikoski’s accident has become a wider discussion in Sweden, because there were no first responders or an ambulance at the home hall of Luleå HF during the match. An expert at the broadcasting company SVT Maria Rooth described weak preparation for a scandal, the outcome of which could have been much more serious than it ended up being.
Hiirikoski, on the other hand, wants to highlight how wonderfully those who came to help work.
– Right now I don’t want to criticize anything. I’m just grateful that there were two doctors there and they had the situation well under control. I then got to the hospital by ambulance.
Hiirokoski himself does not remember how long he had to wait for an ambulance, but according to SVT, the waiting time was no less than half an hour.
– I understand that the discussion will certainly arise. The league and the club will then make decisions in the future, he says diplomatically.
The cut on the neck is potentially life-threatening, but Hiirikoski was very lucky on the way, because he was discharged from the hospital after the operation the same evening.
The case brings a reminder of the importance of using a neck protector, even if it did not prevent the cut in this situation.
– The use of neck protection is mandatory for us, but it was just an unfortunate situation when we were both frozen. I myself still reached for the puck and he also fell in that situation, Hiirikoski times.
Today to encourage
Hiirikoski was already in such good shape on Monday morning that he plans to head to the hall in the evening to watch the third final match between Luleå HF and Brynäs IF.
Game day is unusual in many ways.
– I have received encouraging messages from all over the world today. I am humbly very grateful.