Tom Pohl skull fracture

[hyprlte 0]

saw the highlight on sportscentre last night... terrible.. hope he recovers asap.

Coach Don Lucia found the senior forward more responsive when he visited him Monday and said he is in "good hands" in Rochester.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Tom Pohl

Dml -

* 262 minutes, 5 overtimes and 1 goaltending duel

Gophers men's hockey player Tom Pohl was in intensive care Monday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester after surgery for bleeding on his brain and a skull fracture.

Pohl, a senior forward, was injured Sunday night in the Gophers' 3-2 double-overtime victory at Minnesota State Mankato. He was elbowed by the Mavericks' Jason Wiley six minutes into the second period.

Pohl lost his helmet as he was falling and appeared to hit the dasher in front of the Gophers bench. There was a 13-minute delay as Pohl, who had a large gash on his forehead and was also bleeding from his nose, was immobilized and taken off in a stretcher. Wiley received a major penalty for contact to the head and a game disqualification.

Pohl was airlifted from Mankato to St. Marys. Surgery there successfully stopped the bleeding and stabilized the fracture, according to University of Minnesota athletic officials. The hospital listed his condition Monday night as fair.

"Obviously, the injury was caused because of the helmet coming off," said Gophers coach Don Lucia after driving to Rochester to visit Pohl. "Whether he hit his head on the sideboards or the ice, it was serious. He was in good hands. They did the surgery [sunday] night."

Lucia continued: "He seems like he is doing better. I did not get there until mid-afternoon [after a team meeting]. He was becoming much more responsive, and you were able to talk to him."

Pohl was happy the Gophers had won, but player and coach talked little about the game

"When you see someone laid up like he is, wins and losses do not mean a lot," Lucia said.

MSU Mankato athletic director Kevin Buisman issued a statement that said: "... We want to express our deepest care and concern for Tom Pohl and his family. They will be in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to monitor his medical progress, and we want to extend our best wishes for a complete and full recovery."

Pohl usually plays on the Gophers' fourth line and kills penalties. He played high school hockey at Red Wing. He is the younger brother of John Pohl, a former All-America player with the Gophers who now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Pohl left his NHL team on Monday to fly to Rochester.

The Gophers won the best-of-three series against the Mavericks 2-1 and advanced to the WCHA Final Five starting Thursday in St. Paul.

Pohl's teammates were informed about his condition when the team bus arrived in Minneapolis early Monday morning, team captain Derek Peltier said.

"It's real scary to see," said Peltier, a senior defenseman. "He was full of energy and he added a lot of heart to the team. We are definitely going to miss him."

Pohl played in a career-high 34 games this season. And although his playing career with the Gophers is over, his coach said there might be a chance of Pohl accompanying the team if the postseason extends beyond this week's Final Five.

"We're hoping right now he comes back," Lucia said. "That if we make the NCAA [tournament], he accompanies the team. We're keeping our fingers crossed."

[forbs02 20]

It sounds like Tommy is going to be ok. He will be in the hospital for a few more days but should eventually be fine. He is a great kid and I wish him nothing but the best. I've definately been thinking of him since this happened.

Not to be preachy because this was a horrible accident, but make sure your helmet fits. Tommy wears his helmet and chinstrap loose, and when he was hit it flew off leaving him unprotected when he hit the boards. The severity would definately have been less if his helmet had stayed on.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Wow...I just cringed when I read that.

Exactly - first thought was "College players wear cages."

[psh 25]

Button up the lids--and be sure they fit. The hit did not look particularly cheap, no penalty was called, and Lucia is not making an issue of it. The most important take away here is to wear your helmet correctly.

Good Luck, Tom. All hockey players wish you well.

[Oberon 0]

Wiley received a major penalty for contact to the head and a game disqualification.

I don't think it was a cheap hit, but an unfortunate one - it looked like Pohl started to go down as Wiley was moving in to hit him. There was a penalty, though.

[brettlynch11 0]

i dont see why people think they look cool by wearing their cages loose. im not saying he was or wasnt, i havent seen the hit in this case. but in other cases i have seen the player get hit with his chin strap not done up and the helmet come flying off. really though unless you are practicing or just skating with a couple buddies, tighten the strap up its just not worth it

[BigDipper 0]

in 1998 I was hit from behind into the boards causing a 4 inch long skull fracture. I was hospital for two weeks and labelled critical for two days. Ultimately the injury ended my competitive playing career and I still feel and have various effects to this day. It sickens me to hear of this happening to other players. The hardest part is treating the injury afterwards. Let alone the concussions and other damage that goes on as well. I had my helmet on, which is the scariest part. I hope nothing but the best for that player. Even if he never plays again, it's his health that is most important.

[psh 25]

Wiley received a major penalty for contact to the head and a game disqualification.

I don't think it was a cheap hit, but an unfortunate one - it looked like Pohl started to go down as Wiley was moving in to hit him. There was a penalty, though.

You're right. Thanks for the correction. I was watching the game and don't remember it being called in the flow of the game, but now that you mention it, I remember the 5 min. PP. In any case, the hit wasn't unusual. So, the point remains: tighten the straps and button up the helmet. This could have happened in any game.

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

i wish him a full recovery. wear ur chin straps tight boys.

[gagner89 0]

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

I never did understand the appeal of a loose chin strap...

[brettlynch11 0]

it looks cool duh

but yeah i dont understand how its cool at all if anything i think it makes the player look stupid and cocky

[epstud74 24]

Tom Pohl is my favorite player on that team. He does what the others wont do. It has been a dismal season marked by youth, defections and lack of chemistry. Get well Tom.

P.S. He is far from cocky

[tips09 0]

I heard on sports center today that they had a successful surgery and he could be out as early as 4 days

[D-MaN88 0]

Wish the kid the best and to a quick recovery.

But the reason a lot of guys wear their straps and cage like that is because well for me personally and a lot of my friend we hate when the straps and all that are touching our skin. Yes it may be stupid but for having to wear a cage thats the only way it was comfortable for me to stand it.

[s Greens 0]

i was the same way this year when i went out for a new team, and since i wasnt signed, i was forced to wear a cage. I thought id rock the "NCAA" loose cage look and needless to say, in the first exibition game we played i got elbowed in the head on a relatively weak hit and the cage came up and broke my schnozz in 2 places.

my scar looked bad ass at least

all the best to tom

[gagner89 0]

When I used to wear a cage, I couldn't stand having it loose - the flapping was the most annoying thing ever. But I did have the chin strap on the helmet loose when I had the cage on tight...

It's great to hear that Tom should make a speedy recovery...

[hrbekroenick 0]

Tom Pohl is my favorite player on that team. He does what the others wont do. It has been a dismal season marked by youth, defections and lack of chemistry. Get well Tom.

P.S. He is far from cocky

X2 on him being far from cocky. He is a great guy. I've met him a few times at Gopher events, and played softball against several of his family members - including John Pohl of the Leafs (his brother), Erik Wendell (former Gopher) and Krissy Wendell (USA/LLWS fame). They are all very down to earth.

We wish Tommy the best.

I was in the corner where they scored the OT winner at the Saturday game in Mankato. It was incredible.

[epstud74 24]

Johnny Pohl is married to Krissy Wendell right?

[forbs02 20]

Johnny Pohl is married to Krissy Wendell right?

Yup. First baby due in a couple months.

[ddbowdoin 0]

can you say Jofa bubble?? I cant even remember how many time I got bundled with that cage on

but boy did I look good...

[forbs02 20]

Article.

Here is an update and video.