McCool returns to Spitfires’ lineup after scary injury
Three weeks after being taken off the ice on a stretcher, Hayden McCool is set to return for the Windsor Spitfires.
McCool took part in a full-contact practice on Wednesday and is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday when the Spitfires face the Saginaw Spirit at the WFCU Centre.
“It was definitely the scariest thing that’s happened to me,” the 19-year-old said. “I didn’t know (what was happening). You take your faith in your hands and hope for the best.”
Less than two minutes into the third period of a game against Saginaw, McCool was taken out at the ankles by Saginaw’s Brock Hill. Windsor’s Graham Knott jumped over his teammate to avoid a collision, but McCool clipped the Saginaw net with his legs and then spun headfirst into the boards.
“I watched (a replay) about four days after it happened,” McCool said. “It almost looked worse than what I remember.”
Spitfires athletic therapist Joey Garland left the Windsor bench quickly to tend to McCool.
“As it happened, I almost blacked out a little,” McCool said. “Joey was in my ear telling me not to move.”
McCool said that by the time he arrived at the hospital, it had been determined that nothing was broken.
“My parents weren’t at the
game,” McCool said. “So, I had to call my dad when I got off the ice and my mom’s in the background freaking out, so it wasn’t a pleasant time for anybody.
“The worst part was I never moved off that stretcher for three hours once I got to the hospital.”
He dealt with concussion-like symptoms after the incident.
“Better every day,” McCool said. “You’ve got to think you’re lucky more than anything. It’s a second chance.”
Defenceman Daniel Robertson, who has been sidelined with a leg injury, is also expected to return for the Spitfires after missing nine games.
“We have a pair of 19-year-olds coming back,” Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson said. “That’s good depth for the team. It strengthens our four lines moving forward.”
McCool said he’s not going to overthink the incident, which was more of a freak accident.
“It was unlucky and unfortunate, but it happens,” he said.
“I’ve seen it happen and heard about it happening with much worse repercussions than what I had.”