I had a helmet when the plastic piece over the ear wasn’t screwed in properly. It was just wedged between the foam and the shell and slipped out. I pulled it off and it sat in my bag.
Then a couple of ice times later, I’m playing D, some guy gets a stick on a shot, and it comes up and hits my ear. I was bleeding pretty well, left the ice. Figured I’d hit the shower then head to a walk in for a quick repair. It wasn’t huge, only got a stitch or two.
When that shower water first hit it, wow. Not sure why, I’m no expert on ear anatomy, but it was a huge shock, felt like I got walloped in the side of the head.
That ear guard is back in place and if I had a helmet where it was off for any reason, I would use something, even sock tape in a pinch, to make sure it’s there.
And I was super lucky, just a glancing deflection and a minor flesh wound.
I really feel sorry for Bryan Little, can’t imagine what that must be like
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