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.
Oh really?? No appeal in the U.S.A.??
Just try getting 2 tickets together for a hockey game.......(currently playing before 92% average capacity attendance)
Let's not blow up this "accident" into an indictment of the greatest sport on earth!!
Better ban baseball too!! Dead players and dead fans!! (not to mention the players on steroids!!)
Get real!!
Why do some morons here think they have to be so cute with a tragedy like this???
Depends on the topic here in FR land, IMO. I once posted a comment on a thread about a Marine in Iraq shooting himself. As soon as I posted it, I asked the mod to remove it. It was removed quickly, but I was jumped on quickly by a number of FReepers (and rightfully so).
But as long as it doesn't involve someone/something significant to folks posting here they don't mind poking fun at death. I think it pathetic.
You seem to have way too much time on your hands........
Playing before near capacity because its the only way to see the game.... When they get and maintain a national contract that isn't on some po dunk cable, let the world know.
I can walk up to Mellon Arena any night and buy tickets to any game.... And that's with Mario and Crosby both on the ice.
Don't think because you can fill an arena (because its the only place to actually see the game) that its the most popular sport going... its not.
Lock out for a year, and frankly... no one cared.
A "sport" that relies on fights to keep the audiences interest is something that has more akin to Roller Derby and wrasslin than other "sports".
Now, this could be a freak accident, or it could be as others have suggested here, an act by yet another want to be college or pro hockey player who thinks lifting the puck is cool and part of the way you are supposed to play the game.
No one said it was the most popular sport. I said IMHO, that it was the greatest.
Regardless of TV (which, by the way, is NOT the way to watch Ice Hockey) the fans are filling up the arenas in unprecedented numbers.
If you don't like the sport, fine. Just don't trash it. If you think that hockey is all about fighting, you are sadly mistaken and misinformed.
Also, just because you can get 2 tickets together in Pittsburgh, their attendance is still up 35%. Not bad........
Who was supposed to have been prosecuted? The player, the team, the stadium owner?
. . . And it's ticking away
With my sanity
I've got too much
Time on my hands
It's hard to believe
Such a calamity
I've got too much
Time on my hands
And it's ticking away
Ticking away
From me
Tick tick tick tick
Ticking away . . .
Not yet, it was only a white male.
They're probably delivered to the arenas in SUV's.
...SUV's with pitbulls in the back...
Agreed. I think they should use something less threatening - like a pancake.
Real lovely sentiments people.
DID I MISS WHAT WAS FUNNY ABOUT THIS STORY?
I know whenever I see a headline indicating a man, husband and father's life is likely OVER from a tragic accident, I always try to say something funny. < /sarcasm >
"Stories are neither funny nor not funny. They are just useful or not useful to make funny posts. There's this theory about the open society of humor and its enemies . . . Don't fight openness . . ." |
What the hell are you talking about?
I love humor. More than most. But when I got done with this story I was thinking of a brain dead man and his kid who watched it happen on what was supposed to be a fun day.
And I'm not a big fan of the anti-knee-jerk knee-jerk form of comedy around here. It's so damn ~trite~.
I needed it. About 10 pounds more and I'll be good to go.
Yes, it could have been that. Or it could have been what Cicero said: Some kid thought he was being smart lifting the puck.
.....or maybe one of the other FATHERS thought he was being smart lifting the puck.
Definitely could have been that too.
I can watch long distance video of insurgents being blown to bits no big deal. So there's a difference (to me) about the injured or dead persons situation and my empathy towards them.
Speaking for only myself, using dark humor is a way for me to disconnect myself, I can't handle the sadness of the world.
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