Tom Pohl Injury Update

[Wagz]

My prayers go out to the family
This was a bad way to end the career !!
This was a scary hit and you never want to see this stuff happen no matter what !!

Gophers senior forward Tom Pohl is in intensive care after brain surgery at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester today.

Pohl was elbowed to the ice and injured during Minnesota's 3-2 double-overtime victory over Minnesota State Sunday in Mankato.

Pohl sustained a skull fracture when his head hit the boards in front of the team's bench at 6:09 of the second period. The injury resulted in bleeding on the brain and Pohl was airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital.

Successful surgery was performed to stop the bleeding and stabilize the fracture. Pohl remains at the hospital for further observation.

"We are very fortunate that he has tremendous medical care," said Gophers coach Don Lucia, who is in Rochester with Pohl and his family. "We're looking forward to him returning to school at 100 percent and our thoughts and prayers remain with Tom and the Pohl family."

Pohl was elbowed in the head by MSU's Jason Wiley, and his helmet came off as he fell to the ice face first. Wiley received a major penalty for elbowing to the head and was disqualified from the game.

[Randy Kaar]

man..  what a shame that is, i watched the game but must have
missed that. they never said anything the whole game.

randy aka bh

[Bobby Bass]

Injured University of Minnesota hockey player Tom Pohl was transferred out of intensive care at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester today, and Gophers coach Don Lucia said he's hopeful Pohl would be able to leave the hospital "in three or four days."

Pohl, 23, is listed in fair condition, which means his vital signs are within normal limits, he's conscious and the prognosis is "favorable."

A senior forward for the Gophers, Pohl suffered a fractured skull and bleeding from the brain after an on-ice mishap in a WCHA playoff game Sunday night in Mankato, and was taken to a Mankato hospital, then airlifted to St. Marys for emergency brain surgery late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Lucia said he and the team's trainers have been monitoring the situation, and the biggest concern was there might be further bleeding in the brain. "That has not happened," Lucia said today.

The coach said earlier he's hopeful Pohl would be released from the hospital early enough and his condition would improve to the point that if Minnesota earns an invitation to the NCAA tournament, Pohl would be able to accompany the team to its first-round regional March 28.

WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said Tuesday, "Our concerns are very high, and we hope for the best for Tom and his whole family."

Pohl's family members have so far declined interview requests, according to a spokesperson for the Mayo Clinic, with which St. Marys Hospital is affiliated.


from The Pioneer Press

[Wagz]

Heard he was out of the ICU that is a good sign. He was named to the all acedemic team too !!!

He was a classy guy from what I have heard !!!

[thunderpout]

Donny Lucia said he may make the game Thursday... That'd be awesome..he'll be wearing a goalie mask on the bench, eh?