Ondrej Pavelec ready to skate with Atlanta Thrashers
Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is set to rejoin the Atlanta Thrashers in practice for the first time since he collapsed on the ice in a game against the Washington Capitals on 8 October.
Pavelec started the game against the Capitals, but collapsed only 2:25 into the contest, losing consciousness. The youngster remained motionless on the ice while getting attended to by team trainers. The 23-year-old later regained consciousness in hospital
where he was diagnosed with a concussion, likely sustained when he hit the ice.
The scene was understandably a scary one for those in attendance, as these types of injuries or occurrences during hockey games have sometimes resulted in death. The most notable case of a youngster collapsing during a game was when New York Rangers prospect
Alexi Cherepanov collapsed on the bench during a Kontinetal Hockey League game between his club Avangard Omsk and Vityaz Chekhov. Cherepanov’s heart stopped and doctors were unable to revive him. Fortunately for Pavelec, it was determined that the hulking
6’3” goaltender simply fainted.
Since the injury to Pavelec, Chris Mason has been filling in for the Thrashers in goal. Mason was originally brought to Atlanta in order to split time with the youngster and take some of the pressure off the Czech native. So far this season Mason has been
average, playing to a record of 3-2 with a goals-against-average of 3.00 and a save-percentage of .917.
Despite losing their starting goaltender early, the Thrashers have managed to stay competitive, sitting third in the Southeast division, two points back of the Washington Capitals. The club has relied heavily on the strong play of the newly acquired Andrew
Ladd and Anthony Stewart. Ladd has tallied five points, while Stewart has notched four goals.
Last season with the Thrashers, Pavelec managed 14 wins, a save-percentage of .906 and a goals-against-average of 3.29.
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