Hurricanes assistant coach Jeff Daniels suffers injury when hit in the head by a puck
A member of the Carolina Hurricanes coaching staff suffered a freak injury Thursday when assistant Jeff Daniels was hit on the top of his head by a flying puck.
Daniels was hit just before the team’s morning skate at PNC Arena, and required medical attention.
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Daniels was injured when a shot banged off the cross bar and the puck sailed out near the blue line, calling it “one of the freakiest things I’ve seen.” Brind’Amour said Daniels suffered a “pretty deep gash” and had to “get stitched up.”
Canes trainer Doug Bennett rushed to Daniels’ assistance on the ice, placing a towel to Daniels’ head and helping him to the locker room.
The Hurricanes hosted the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday and Daniels, who handles the Canes’ forwards during games, was back behind the bench.
Brind’Amour called Daniels’ injury an “occupational hazard.” None of the coaches — Brind’Amour, Daniels, Tim Gleason or goalie coach Paul Schonfelder — wear helmets during practice.
“It makes you think about it when you see something like that because there are a lot of pucks flying around,” Brind’Amour said.
Even helmets can’t prevent head injuries. Defenseman Brendan Smith, attempting to block a shot this season, suffered a fractured skull when hit near his ear just below the helmet.
During the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, Brind’Amour was playing and on the bench when hit in the face by a puck.
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 1:56 PM.
