A scary moment on the ice left fans stunned after a routine play turned into a dangerous accident involving a top NHL coach.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was rushed to the hospital after being struck in the head by a rogue puck during Saturday’s game—and the impact was serious.
The incident happened during a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights when forward Keegan Kolesar attempted to bank the puck off the boards. But the shot went off course, ricocheting toward the Avalanche bench and hitting Bednar directly in the side of the head.
The sudden blow forced Bednar to immediately leave the bench and head to the locker room. He did not return to the game.
Despite the frightening moment, reports say Bednar remained conscious and alert as he was taken to the hospital, where doctors performed a CT scan to assess the damage.
The team later confirmed he suffered facial fractures along with a corneal abrasion—but thankfully, he’s expected to make a full recovery.
Still, the injury will sideline him for the immediate future. The Avalanche announced Bednar won’t travel with the team for their upcoming road games as he focuses on healing. Assistant coaches Nolan Pratt and Dave Hakstol will step in while he recovers.
The game itself didn’t go Colorado’s way either, as the Golden Knights pulled off a 3-2 overtime win to lock in a playoff spot.
After the game, Pratt admitted the moment shook the team. “It’s scary when the pucks are flying in there,” he said, adding that while it’s something players and coaches are used to, incidents like this are always unsettling.
He’s really lucky……that could have pucked him up BIG time !