JT Compher injured at WJC (again)
Michigan hockey player and noteworthy American JT Compher was injured again blocking a shot again at the World Juniors.
Compher was hurt blocking a shot during a late 5-on-3 penalty kill. His left hand and thumb were heavily wrapped when he arrived at the rink for the United States' game Thursday against Finland.
USA Hockey would not reveal the full nature of the injury.
"We got him looked at and we'll leave it at that for now," Jim Johansson, the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and the general manager of the United States for 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, told NHL.com.
No word yet on if this will hold him out to start our season but that doesn't sound particularly good.
not good
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I'm almost having a hard time picturing a left hand injury on a righty blocking a shot.
If he shoots right, his left hand is at the top of his stick, with the back of the hand facing the shooter.
Especially at the thumb, where it sounds like his injury was and which usually has a hard plastic or fiberglass piece over that area. If he's diving right to left he's got that padding and if he's diving left to right he should have his stick in between at the minimum and likely his right hand or arm.
Not necessarily diving. Guys on PKs will flare their arms out at their sides to try to block passes and shots, sometimes without a stick. Take this for example:
Of course that's probably a lefty there, but you see what I mean. Shots can also be blocked from crouches and weird sprawls.
Because, like I said above, I just can't picture another way to get a puck onto a thumb while blocking a shot.
Yeah I think it's camp / exhibition games. I think the worst part is it was the end of a 7-1 win.