CLINT MALARCHUK SABRES CUSTOM MCFARLANE OLD GOALIE MASK
Shortly after joining his new club, Malarchuk nearly bled to death after he was accidentally cut in throat by an errant skate blade during a game against the St. Louis Blues. Prompt action by the Buffalo training staff controlled the bleeding and allowed the veteran goalie to recover and return to the line up in the post-season.
On March 22, 1989, Clint Malarchuk very nearly lost his life playing the game he loves. A goaltender playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Defenseman Uwe Krupp of the Sabres and right-winger Steve Tuttle of the St. Louis Blues collided in front of Malrchuk’s goal. Tuttle lost his balance, and his skate caught Malarchuk in his neck, slicing open his jugular vein. As Malarchuk dropped to his knees, a pool of his blood grew rapidly on the ice. (If you’re so inclined, you can watch a video of the incident here.)
While television cameras immediately cut away and fans in the arena turned away in horor, Malarchuk could well have been in grave danger. Thankfully, Malarchuk was somehow able to leave the ice under his own power, and he was even back in net for the Sabres a scant two weeks later. Sadly, and I suppose understandably, Malarchuk was never the same player he was prior to this horrifying accident. One positive result of his experience was that the National Hockey League now requires all goaltenders to wear neck protection. This has helped to ensure that no similar incident has occurred since Malarchuk nearly died on the ice.
To celebrate this event- if such a thing should even be celebrated- someone just sold a 6” custom figurine of the moment Clint Malarchuk is best known for. This, I suppose, only demonstrates the a free market economy is no guarantee of good taste.
What’s next? Hand-painted figurines of children dying in Lebanon??
