The game after Jack Rathbone was named the AHL's Player of the Week, he had to be stretchered off the ice after a dirty hit from behind by Colton Sceviour.
Prior to the hit, Rathbone had extended his point streak to six games with two assists for the Abbotsford Canucks against the Bakersfield Condors. That brought him to 13 points in the last 6 games. It seemed inevitable that Rathbone would get called up to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Canucks. Now, the hope is simply that he is okay and gets 100% healthy.
The hit took place midway through the third period. Rathbone went back to retrieve a dump-in and was hit directly in the numbers by Sceviour, slamming him hard into the end boards. Rathbone dropped to the ice and remained there.
Rathbone remained on the ice for over ten minutes while being attended to by medical staff, eventually leaving on a stretcher. The broadcast indicated that Rathbone was .
Sceviour was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding, though it is alarming that neither referee raised their arm to make a call when the hit occurred. The Condors immediately gained possession of the puck but the whistle was not blown until it was clear that Rathbone was in distress.
The Canucks were up 2-1 at the time of the hit and scored three more goals after Rathbone left the game to win 5-2, but all of the focus now is on whether Rathbone is okay. The Canucks did not have an update on Rathbone's status after the game.
UPDATE: Rathbone has been released from the hospital and will travel with the team.