Jared Bednar, head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, sustained facial fractures and a corneal abrasion after being hit by a puck during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The incident occurred when a shot from Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar deflected into the Avalanche bench, striking Bednar in the face.
As a result of the injury, Bednar will miss the Avalanche’s upcoming two-game road trip, which includes matches against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. He was escorted down the tunnel shortly after the incident and did not return for the remainder of the game, which the Avalanche lost 3-2.
Following the injury, Bednar was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Fortunately, he will not require surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Brendan McNicholas, a member of the Avalanche staff, confirmed that Bednar was “fully alert, fully conscious” after the incident.
In Bednar’s absence, assistants Nolan Pratt and Dave Hakstol will take over coaching duties. Pratt remarked on the unnerving nature of the incident, stating, “Certainly a little unnerving, right? It’s scary when the pucks are flying in there. It happens all the time, and unfortunate tonight.”
The Avalanche have already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team this year, which may provide some comfort as they navigate this temporary setback without their head coach.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for Bednar’s return, but the team is optimistic about his recovery. Fans and players alike will be watching closely as the Avalanche continue their season without their leader at the helm.
