A scary moment occurred at the Nashville Predators’ morning skate Thursday, as the team’s general manager, David Poile, was taken to the hospital after being struck in the face with a puck.
The Preds are in Minnesota for a game against the Wild.
Poile, who also serves as the GM for Team USA’s men’s Olympic hockey team, was standing in a tunnel behind the Nashville bench when according to Wild beat writer Michael Russo a deflected Shea Weber pass hit him above the eye. Russo added the unsuspecting GM was seen with a black eye, bloody nose and appeared groggy before being taken to the hospital.
“Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile was taken to a St. Paul, Minn., hospital today after being struck by an errant puck during the team’s morning skate at Xcel Energy Center,” a statement from the team read. “He will remain in the hospital overnight for observation and evaluation, and further information will be released as it becomes available.”
According to Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press, Poile suffered a fractured orbital bone.
The 63-year-old has been the Predators’ GM since the team came into the league in 1998. It’s unknown at this time whether or not Poile’s injuries will prevent him from joining Team USA in Sochi.
https://twitter.com/ChadGraff/status/431550683129454592
"I came in just as they were wheeling him out," coach Barry Trotz said. "I saw him in the trainer’s room, and they put him on the stretcher to take him out. I didn’t think he felt like talking."
Trotz said Poile was hit above the eye.
"That’s the first thing you worry about," the coach said, adding: "It was a hard, rocket pass that skipped and hit him pretty flush, so we hope everything is fine there."
Predators television announcer Pete Weber also left the arena in the morning for the hospital. He was taken for emergency heart surgery but was resting comfortable later in the day, the team said.
–With files from Associated Press
