Young QJMHL Player Justin Blais Delivers a Message to Everyone After Scary Injury in Last Night's Game

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Chris Gerics
November 2, 2024 (6:50 PM)

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After a frightening incident during a QMJHL game, Gatineau Olympiques player Justin Blais has spoken about the injury and thanked everyone for the love and support.

In a horrifying scene on Friday night during a game between the Gatineau Olympiques and Baie-Comeau Drakkar, with Baie-Comeau dominating 8-2, Olympiques player Justin Blais got into a scuffle which led to him falling and striking his head on the ice. Almost immediately, Blais started seizing and medical staff tended to him on ice. He was stretchered off and rushed to a hospital, and the game abruptly ended.

"A very concerning scene in Baie-Comeau: the head of Justin Blais from the Olympiques hit the ice as he fell during a scuffle. He went into convulsions and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Fortunately, he was conscious as he left. Thoughts are with the Olympiques."

Well luckily for everyone, it seems Blais is going to be okay in the end. The Olympiques shared a photo with Blais' permission that gave an update on the injured player. It shows him posing with a thumbs up while in a neck brace with other various cuts and abrasions in a massively positive sign that things are alright.

Blais also wanted to take the time to thank the fans and all of the QMJHL for their kind words of support. While uncommon, these types of injuries do occur in pro hockey and medical staff needs to be alert at all times. The unsung heroes of the team, without the quick thinking and skills of the training and medical staff, so many countless injuries could become much, much worse. It's hard to imagine the careers of Clint Malarchuk or Richard Zednik continuing without the immediacy of trainers, and who knows how many more have been saved from life-altering injuries.

Blais, only in his second year in the QMJHL is known as a smooth skating puck mover who is a solid passer and plays well in transition. He wouldn't be eligible for the draft for a couple more years, and one can hope that this injury doesn't set Blais back too much in the future; head injuries are a serious issue.

It's great to see Blais being positive about such a terrifying situation. All we can hope is that Blais recovers quickly and can be back on the ice to do what he loves once again.