Ben Fanelli Headshot…When will it Stop

On Friday night in Kitchener Ontario fans, players and management alike got a loud reminder that winning hockey games is not exactly the most important thing in life. On this night a near tragedy occurred during an Ontario Hockey League game that has left several parties extremely shaken. In the second period of a game that the Kitchener Rangers would win 4-0 spectators saw a graphic event that they will remember for a lifetime when Rangers 16 year-old defenseman Ben Fanelli was slammed head first into the end boards. Fanelli lost consciousness as his helmet came off before his head hit the ice. In a touching scene Fanelli’s concerned teammates took a knee on the ice and joined hands in saying a prayer. After approximately 15 minutes of hushed silence, Fanelli was taken off on a stretcher where he was then rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to a Hamilton medical establishment. Upon seeing this horrific incident Fanelli’s mother was in such shock that she fainted and had to be revived. Also suffering terribly from this incident is Erie Otters forward Michael Liambas who was the one who checked Fanelli. Liambas who was apparently crying and shaken up emotionally was given a game misconduct for boarding. The next day an update was released by the Rangers that Fanelli is in critical condition and has skull and facial fractures. He also picked up a cut above the eye. The good news was that Fanelli gained consciousness when taken off the ice.