Urho Vaakanainen crashed into the end.
Urho Vaakanainen moved to California in the middle of last season. Stock photo. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
A scary situation was experienced in the practice match between the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks.
In the first round, the Ducks’ Finnish defender Urho Vaakanainen fell from the high speed towards the end. Vaakanainen faltered in a situation where the Ducks were just building their opening goal in the Sharks end.
Vaakanainen had to be carried from the rink on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital in Orange County for further evaluation.
There was some reassuring information from the Ducks. According to the society, Vaakanainen is conscious, and his limbs move normally.
The 23-year-old Finnish forward was traded from the Boston Bruins to Anaheim in the middle of last season. He played a total of 29 games in the NHL last season and scored 0+6 points in them.