Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek has only himself to blame after suffering a freak injury that led to him requiring stitches on his eye.
The veteran defenceman told Sportsnet Wednesday that he smashed his stick in frustration at Monday’s practice after missing several shots. Graphite flew from the stick and caught him in the right eye. He had to see a specialist, who removed the pieces of graphite and stitched the eye up.
So the Mike Komisarek injury was exactly what everyone expected. Smashed his stick in frustration and got a piece stuck in his eye.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 30, 2013
Komisarek says he got graphite in his eye after smashing his stick in practice Monday. Had the graphite removed and stitches put in. #leafs
— Barry Davis (@SNBarryDavis) January 30, 2013
Komisarek takes full responsibility for the incident. His vision is fine and he’s good to play tomorrow. #leafs
— Barry Davis (@SNBarryDavis) January 30, 2013
So Mike Komisarek confirms: smashed a stick in frustration, gets splinter is Ok now. ‘Won’t take it out on a stick next time.’ #leafs
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) January 30, 2013
Komisarek said that his vision is fine, he takes full responsibility and he has learned from the incident. The 31-year-old added that he’s good to play whenever the team needs him.
Although doctors cleared Komisarek following his stitches, Leafs coach Randy Carlyle chose to keep him off the ice as a precaution and the veteran did not suit up for the Leafs’ in their 4-3 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday.
“It was one of those things that you’d like to take back in your life I think, when you do something stupid,” Carlyle said before Tuesday’s game. “It was crazy.”
Komisarek has played just three games with the Maple Leafs this season registering zero points, two penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating. There is no word on whether he’ll be in the lineup when Toronto hosts the struggling Washington Capitals Thursday at the Air Canada Centre.
