Swedish linesman loses part of finger after hand gets caught in boards (Video)
Hockey officials aren’t immune to injury during gameplay, from skate blades to bodychecks to flying pucks. But one Swedish linesman suffered a unique injury during a preseason game on Tuesday.
He lost part of a finger.
It happened in a HockeyAllsvenskan exhibition game between Tingsryds AIF and IK Oskarshamn when two players collided with 23-year-old official Anton Starby along the boards. As Starby was trying to avoid contact, he placed his right hand on top of the boards where it got caught as he fell to the ice.
(Video not quite for the squeamish.)
Freak injury during a pre-season game in Sweden last night, linesman gets finger ripped off in the boards… ???? pic.twitter.com/RbojuJ0HpH
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) August 17, 2016
“The most horrible [thing] I have experienced, the finger was still sitting in the boards,” said Tingsryds head coach Magnus Sundquist, via Aftonbladet.
According to league referee manager Thomas Thor Brink, half of the little finger is gone but Starby, who underwent surgery on Wednesday, should regain full movement in his hand.
Vill passa på att tacka alla som stöttat mig. Ett särskilt stort tack till @iko_officiell & @Tingsrydsaif för all hjälp & omtanke!
— Anton Starby (@AntonStarby) August 18, 2016
“Would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me. A special thank you for all the help @iko_officiell @Tingsrydsaif & thoughtfulness!”
“He’s in good spirits, but obviously a little jumpy,” Thor Brink said. “Now he is on sick leave and will rest for several weeks. He’s new in the Hockey Allsvenskan as linesman for this season. Despite the accident, he has said he wants to come back.”
Now that’s a hockey official.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
