The hockey world was abuzz today with reaction to Keith Ballard’s stick swinging incident that caught Panther goaltender Tomas Vokoun in the head.
Keith Ballard almost decapitates Tomas Vokoun
While most said that they had never seen anything like it in hockey, there is one member of the Montreal Canadiens who has first hand experience.
Last Spring, Jaroslav Halak didn’t have a very good world championship tournament playing for Slovakia. Halak gave up several weak goals against Canada and was pulled. Halak ended the tournament with a 1-3 record, 3.17 GAA and .871 SV%.
But the ultimate insult came in a game against the Czech Republic after the Slovaks gave up their eighth goal in an 8-0 loss. Halak was struck in the head by his frustrated defenseman Tomas Surovy.
Tomas Surovy Hits Own Goalie, Jaroslav Halak in World Hockey Championship 2009
Funny, the second thing that went through my mind after hearing that Ballard tried to kill Vokoun was "reminds me of the time that Jaro was whacked upside the head at the Worlds…."
Jaro was no worse for the wear and it sounds like Vokoun will be alright too.
I really hope players think twice about trying to hit the crossbar in the future because clearly hitting your own goalie is not a good thing… =/
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