A scary scene unfolded in Bridgeport Friday night, during the Hershey Bears’ first game of their playoff series against the Sound Tigers. Midway through the third period, defender Aaron Ness crashed headfirst into the end boards after being toppled by Bridgeport’s Travis St. Denis. Ness, who has played 18 games with the Capitals in his career, laid face-down on the ice as he was attended to by medical personnel.
Ness was eventually placed in a stretcher and carried off the ice.
Video
Please be warned that some people will find this footage upsetting.
Here is the footage of the trip that caused Ness’ collision into the boards. Another angle showed he was moving his hands directly after the hit. pic.twitter.com/W6BNrwAUc9
— Chocolate Hockey (@ChocHockey) April 20, 2019
This looks awful from every angle.
Here is the VR camera’s in house angle. pic.twitter.com/WJjpR3vAxY
— Chocolate Hockey (@ChocHockey) April 20, 2019
As Ness was carried off the ice on a stretcher, his teammates lined up on the ice beside him to show support.
Team worried about their leader and now @TheHersheyBears are without Aaron Ness. @TheSoundTigers fans show a lot of class as they watch. #HBH #HersheyBears #CalderCupPlayoffs @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/LV0bMErc2s
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) April 20, 2019
According to Zack Fisch, the Bears play-by-play announcer, Ness is awake and responsive and was taken to a hospital for x-rays.
Best wishes to Ness and his family as we hope for a speedy recovery.
11:05 pm update: The Bears are reporting that Aaron Ness will be okay.
Bears radio play-by-play broadcaster @zackfisch is reporting via Dan “Beaker” Stuck that everything looks good with Aaron Ness. “Thank god he is going to be okay”
— Chocolate Hockey (@ChocHockey) April 20, 2019
Headline photo: @CoryLyonsAHL
