Hockey player who hits head on ice starts convulsing and gets stretchered off: Game gets canceled

17-year-old Justin Blais in the QMJHL hit his head on the ice in last night's game and began convulsing. A stretcher was brought out and he had to be carried off.

Friday night's hockey game between the Gatineau Olympiques and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar saw a horrific scene in the QMJHL. It was one of the grim and rather sudden turns of events as Justin Blais, a 17-year-old defenseman, had to suffer from a serious injury for which fans and players were very worried. After falling and going backward onto the ice, Blais was taken off on a stretcher, a scene that is never nice to see.

In a high-tension moment of the game, players of the two teams were involved in a hot scrum. The jostling Blais lost his balance and fell backward onto the ice, where he hit the back of his head very hard. The impact was severe enough to send Blais into convulsions, which pretty quickly removed all the competitive spirit of the game, as onlookers watched in shock. His teammates, opponents, and fans held their collective breath as he lay on the ice waiting for medical assistance.

According to the reporter, Mikael Lalancette, Blais had come to consciousness while being stretchered off the ice. Though this gave some measure of quick comfort to those in attendance, his condition was still alarming as he was taken to the local hospital for further examination. The injury was severe enough that game officials called off the remainder of the game with Baie-Comeau leading 8-2.

An update from the Gatineau Olympiques arrived later to confirm that Blais was awake and responsive upon his arrival at the hospital. He needed further tests but was showing initial glimpses of improvement that brought some solace to fans and teammates alike. The team ensures all are fully updated as the information about Blais's state improves over the next few days.

This unfortunate incident has again pointed out the dangers athletes go through on the ice, the fragility of their health even in a game that they play so passionately. As fans, teammates, and the hockey community come into solidarity in support of Justin Blais, we extend our prayers for his full recovery, hoping it will be as swift as possible.

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