The Eight Worst Hockey Injuries of All Time

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 13 September 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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• Worst NHL Injuries Revealed
• Gruesome Hockey Injuries: Clint Malarchuk
• Richard Zednik’s Terrifying Incident
• Bryan Berard’s Career-Altering Injury
• Gordie Howe’s Brush with Death
• Sami Salo’s Constant Misfortune
• Paul Kariya’s Concussion Nightmare
• Rich Peverley’s Heart-Stopping Moment
• Frequently Asked Questions

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in North America, and it’s renowned for its speed, skill, and physicality. In other words, it’s not always for the faint-hearted, and in this post, you’re going to see exactly why. The thrill of the action is often punctured by the serious injuries you see – and some of these injuries are so severe they become etched in the memories of NHL fans.

Today, we’ll show you the worst hockey injuries in NHL history – so let’s get started.

Worst NHL Injuries Revealed

If you’re curious about learning about the worst NHL injuries ever, this post should give you the answers you’re looking for. From Clint Malarchuk and Richard Zednik’s neck injuries that nearly cost them their lives, to Bryan Berard’s eye injury that threatened his career, the stories are pretty scary – although it’s important to be aware of the risks involved in playing this fast-paced sport.

Don’t worry; not all our content is about topics like the scariest hockey injuries! We have extensive guides to sports betting, online casinos, and even how-to guides that teach you the best methods for betting on NHL games.

Gruesome Hockey Injuries: Clint Malarchuk

To kick off this worst NHL injuries post, we’ll look at Clint Malarchuk’s story. It’s one of the most shocking in hockey history, and despite happening decades ago, his gruesome hockey injury is still widely talked about, especially when discussing hockey accidents.

So, what happened? During a game in 1989, a collision near the goal resulted in an opponent’s skate blade slicing Malarchuk’s jugular vein. The injury was life-threatening, with blood spurting onto the ice, and the sight of it was so traumatic, several spectators fainted, with many more traumatized.

In a rather telling move to his character, rather than worrying about his injury, Malarchuk’s main concern was his mother, who was watching the game on TV. He feared she would see him die on live television and asked that cameras move away from him.

Thankfully, as a result of the quick actions of the team’s athletic trainer, who was a former army medic, Malarchuk’s life was saved. He was back on the ice in just ten days – something that shocked pretty much everyone in the hockey community.

Unfortunately, however, the accident left a profound mark on Malarchuk’s life. He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled with mental health issues for years following the incident.

Richard Zednik’s Terrifying Incident

Echoing the chilling tale of Clint Malarchuk, Richard Zednik sustained a similarly gruesome hockey injury. A routine 2008 match turned into a nightmare when Zednik’s external carotid artery was accidentally severed by his teammate’s skate. Oblivious to the seriousness at first, it was the sight of his own blood that actually made him rush towards the bench.

His life was undoubtedly saved due to the immediate medical assistance. After an emergency surgery and an awe-inspiring return to the rink in the same season, Zednik was hailed a hero by his team and fans – although when it comes to bad hockey injuries, he’ll always be remembered for his near-death experience.

Like Malarchuk, Zednik struggled with psychological issues as a result of his injury. He reportedly suffered from intense nightmares for many years – although that’s only to be expected, in our opinion, after such a horrific ordeal.

Bryan Berard’s Career-Altering Injury

Bryan Berard’s career took a horrifying turn when he sustained a catastrophic eye injury during a 2000 match. A reckless high stick strike to his face resulted in a detached retina, marking the beginning of one of the worst NHL injuries to date. It was also the start of a long path for Berard – he had to endure multiple surgeries, with doctors painting a grim view of his future in athletics, suggesting that he may never regain full vision.

However, against the odds, Berard – after a grueling year of rehabilitation – went on to regain almost full sight and returned to the ice. He managed to overcome his visual impairment with the aid of a specially designed contact lens. While he was commended for his determination, his performance, unfortunately, was affected post-accident, and he wasn’t able to make the same mark on the ice as he previously did.

His story is an amazing one, however, and below, we’ll show you a quick overview of his journey to overcome his injury.

Gordie Howe’s Brush with Death

Gordie Howe, an old-school veteran of the hockey world, also had a brush with death on the ice. A 1950 playoff game turned into a life-and-death battle for Howe when he slammed headfirst into the boards. The impact inflicted a severe head injury.

So critical was his condition that a local newspaper reported him as being dead – and even those who didn’t believe the news figured there was a strong chance it would indeed come true in the future. However, Howe, dubbed Mr. Hockey for his skills and contributions to the sport, was not going to let one of the scariest hockey injuries ever take him away from the ice! He ended up making a miraculous recovery and returned to the rink the following season.

Unlike some of the other names we’ve looked at so far, Howe’s subsequent performances not only were on par with his previous appearances – he ended up getting better, dominating the rink and becoming one of his team’s top players.

Sami Salo’s Constant Misfortune

Sami Salo, a former pro hockey player from Finland, who played as a defenceman, is the one exception on this list. He didn’t suffer any life-changing injuries, but he gained a reputation for being incredibly prone to accidents – and he suffered no less than 40 injuries during his career!

Born in Turku, Finland, Salo began his professional journey with TPS of the SM-Liiga before joining the Ottawa Senators in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. During his time with the Senators, he experienced a huge number of injuries, from a snakebite to ailments affecting his shoulder, foot, knee, and even a cross-check to the face that resulted in broken teeth and a mild concussion.

In the 2002 off-season, Salo was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. While his stint with the Canucks saw three 30-point campaigns, Salo continued to be plagued by injuries, including a knee sprain, nerve damage in his shoulder, and a groin injury.

His list of injuries further extended while playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team he signed with as a free agent prior to the 2012-13 NHL season. Salo’s career ended in 2015, when he officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Paul Kariya’s Concussion Nightmare

Paul Kariya, a once-big name in hockey, was one of the league’s best – but he also, unfortunately, is known for experiencing one of the worst NHL injuries during a game. It all happened during the 2003 Stanley Cup Final when he played for the Anaheim Ducks. In Game 6, while playing against the New Jersey Devils, Kariya was hit hard.

Knocked clean unconscious, Kariya remained unconscious on the ice for more than a minute, while horrified fans and onlookers watched helplessly. Medical teams rushed to him, and it was found he had a severe concussion. In fact, it was so severe, to this day he’s unable to remember the hit, the goal he scored after, or even the game and days that followed.

Kariya’s 15-year NHL career had amazing numbers: he scored 402 goals and helped with 587 assists over 989 games, and really was one of the league’s best, pre-accident. His career continued with the Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues, despite persistent injuries and post-concussion syndrome that eventually led to his retirement in 2011.

Following his retirement, Kariya distanced himself from hockey, living a secluded life in California. He suffered significantly from the injuries, with testing indicating a 60% drop in brain function. It’s a tragic end to a solid career – but a small slither of light came six years after he retired, when he was entered into the Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s no consolation, of course, but it’s something – and we like to think it’s made his retirement a little bit easier.

Rich Peverley’s Heart-Stopping Moment

Rich Peverley’s story is a scary reminder of the heart risks that can come with sports. In a 2014 game, Peverley fell on the bench because of a heart problem. The medical staff acted fast, giving him CPR, and he was brought back to life. It was revealed later that Peverley had already been told he had an irregular heartbeat the year before – and with this new scare, his doctors told him he’d be unable to continue playing hockey, forcing him into early retirement.

Peverley played professional hockey for nine years before this life-changing event. During his career, he played for the Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars. Peverley was known as a versatile player who could play in different positions, and he was part of the Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

His story shows how important it is for athletes to have regular health checks and for there to be fast medical help at sports events. It also points out the possible heart risks that athletes, especially those in tough sports like hockey, can face.