Posted on 01/02/2006 6:53:37 AM PST by Former Military Chick
DULUTH, Minn. -- A retired police officer and youth hockey coach was critically injured by a hockey puck Saturday during a father-son game.
Dennin Bauers, 52, was struck behind the left ear by a puck at around 9:30 a.m., when about 20 high school players - mostly from Duluth Central High School -- took on their fathers at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. He was wearing a helmet, but collapsed and was taken to the hospital.
He remained in critical condition Sunday afternoon at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, according to the hospital's intensive care unit.
"He's in bad, bad shape," said Duluth police Chief Roger Waller, Bauers' friend.
Bauers has been involved in local youth and adult hockey leagues. He served as an assistant at Duluth Central, where his son plays hockey.
The Duluth native was the commander of the Lake Superior Drug Task Force when he retired in 2004. He also worked as a police officer in St. Paul.
Scott Lyons, former Duluth police chief, told the Star Tribune in Minneapolis that more than 75 of Bauers' friends and relatives had been at the hospital Saturday night.
He said his high school friend and former colleague suffered life-threatening injuries.
"It was pretty somber," Lyons said. "He was a great guy."
Bob Hom, director of operations at the convention center, said he had never seen a serious hockey injury at the center in his 28 years on the job.
Duluth police Lt. Peg Johnson said the mood at the police department was solemn Saturday after officers heard the news. Chief Roger Waller said many of Bauers' colleagues didn't want to see him retire.
"He was a good cop, a very good cop," he said.
There have been puck accidents elsewhere that have caused serious or even fatal injuries.
Brittanie Cecil, 13, was killed during a Columbus Blue Jackets game in 2002 when a puck left the ice and struck her in the forehead.
Chad Hildebrand fell into a coma and died after he was struck by a puck at a senior men's hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2000.
The bunny needs a donut hole on its head.
This is sad news, indeed. Freak accidents. When God puts His Hand on your shoulder, that's it.
ironic: the guy was named "Bauers".
Bauers shoots, Jesus saves.
Dennin Bauers, 52, was struck behind the left ear by a puck at around 9:30 a.m., when about 20 high school players - mostly from Duluth Central High School -- took on their fathers at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. He was wearing a helmet, but collapsed and was taken to the hospital.
Why can't flukes like this happen to the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Clinton, Mao, Kerry, Hussein, etc. ?
Whenever there's a story like this, I know the first five replies will be exactly the kind of crap that was exhibited here. Doesn't anyone realize THEY ARE NOT BEING ORIGINAL???? My heart goes out to the families involved. A truly tragic accident.
Missed that.
There wasn't anything in the article indicating that one of the kids intentionally lifted the puck. These are high school kids, not the NHL. It could have been a deflection or some other fluke thing. This was just a tragic accident.
What can you do to help stop hockey puck abuse? - You can Give a Hockey Puck a Home!
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National Association for the Prevention of Abuse to Hockey Pucks
I remember hearing about that, it was a sad story. It was never prosecuted like it should have been, either.
Sad. Hockey is a tough sport. My son has a scrimmage tonight.
Hockey Ping!
Sounds like someone fired a poorly controlled slapshot while his back was turned.
Bad form, reckless and very dangerous.
Man -- that's too bad. I really hate to hear about that!
My thoughts exactly.
Why do some morons here think they have to be so cute with a tragedy like this???
Excuse me??? Prosecuted?? You are joking, aren't you???
My son put a puck through the glass behind the goal when he was 16.
It could have been a deflection or some other fluke thing.
Yes, it could have been that. Or it could have been what Cicero said: Some kid thought he was being smart lifting the puck.
I see way too many kids who think that hockey is about lifting the puck and, once they learn to do that, developing real hockey skills like skating, stick handling, passing and puck control go out the window. Probably 30% of the yelling that I do at hockey games is: Keep the puck on the ice!
Dead Players, dead fans... no wonder hockey can't find too much appeal in the US.
Why would I joke about something like that?
Well then, please enlighten me and tell us who you would have liked to have seen prosecuted. The puck?? Should we also prosecute a baseball when a foul ball hits a fan?? Ever get hit by a golf ball?? I have, and I didn't ask for the golf ball to be prosecuted.........
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