Nick Fuher

[pro17]

Has anyone heard the extent of Nick Fuher's eye injury?

For those of you who haven't heard, Nick may have severely injured his eye while playing for the Utah Grizzlies against the Chicago Wolves last weekend. He was slashed in the face early in the game. He was immediatly flown to Phoenix to be operated on by the Coyotes' (NHL affliate) doctors. I heard that he could potentially lose his vision in one eye. Does anyone know anything for sure?

[dagies]

Ah man. Is this team snake bitten?

Hang in there Nick. Good luck and best wishes on your recovery.

[PCM]

Remember when Commodore nearly lost an eye after taking a puck to the face? I've never understood why shields or masks aren't mandatory. Makes no sense to me. I know. I just don't get it.

[#1siouxfan22]

If I was ever good enough to make the NHL or any junior league i would be trying to start a trend of wearing a full mask.

The half shield doesnt really do it for me either since you can just as easily get a puck or stick to the face or even your eyes with that kind of shield.

Good luck in your recovery Nick. Hopefully he can come back and play hockey for that AHL team next year.

[dagies]

I forgot about that. Hopefully Nick will have as good a recovery.

[BringDeanBack]

It is sad that a guy that probably played his first 20 years of hockey with a mask, gets an eye injury within three or four games of taking the thing off. Was the slash deliberate?

[Goon]

Remember when Commodore nearly lost an eye after taking a puck to the face? I've never understood why shields or masks aren't mandatory. Makes no sense to me. I know. I just don't get it.

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Are you sure you not thinking about Landon Wilson? I know he almost lost his eye sight in one eye two years ago after taking a slat shot from a team mate in the eye.

[Diggler]

No, it happened to Commodore too. When he came back, he wore the shield for awhile but then took it off again. I still think he's an idiot for doing that. Don't tell him I said that though.

[dagies]

What are you worried about Diggler?. If Commie was looking for you on campus he'd end up with a small Slovakian to shake around like a ragdoll.

[Siouxman]

Truly sad. All the best for Nick in his recovery and his family in these trying times.

[LeftyZL]

This is just an update on Nick Fuher's injury...According to his dad who my mom works with, it took 36 stiches just to seal the eye up enough so that the eye could rest in the socket again....Also, I'm not sure whether Nick went down to Chicago or if a doctor from Chicago went up to Milwaukee to see Nick, but according to Nick's dad the doctor said there was no way Nick should be able to see out of that eye again. Just one doctor's opinion i guess...Nick and his parents flew to Phoenix today(Monday) to see an eye specialist and he was going to have another surgery on his eye Monday night. It seems like the team Nick played for is paying for everything and being real generous and helpful through all of this, so that's good to see. That's all I've heard so far today

[CoteauRinkRat]

Grand Forks Herald story

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/sports/11429277.htm

[dagies]

Good luck, Nick.

[Sioux Hockey Fanatic]

Good luck, Nick.

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Best wishes Nick!

I sure hope that he is able to have a full recovery from this. He's young and healthy so that's one thing in his favor, and sounds like he's getting excellenct care.

When will the other leagues start mandating protective equipment?

[LB#11]

Good Luck Nick... Thanks for all the great memories you've given us Sioux fans. The most memorable Nick Fuher goal was the blast from the point in OT against I believe was Denver in the playoffs...at the Ralph to go to the Final Five... I think it was the 2002-2003 season.

[tnt]

I think the stigma of wearing a full shield mask in major and minor league hockey is such that players would be a target of other players for being different and could be in for more punishment along the boards, such as checking from behind. There is even still a stigma for having half-shields, although not to the same degree as it was before. It was more of a European thing in the past, but more and more players are starting to wise up. You never see an enforcer wear a visor of any sort unless they are nursing an injury already. Unless the leagues started to require them, many would shy away because they don't want to be perceived as soft.

[Sioux,CO]

I think the stigma of wearing a full shield mask in major and minor league hockey is such that players would be a target of other players for being different and could be in for more punishment along the boards, such as checking from behind.  There is even still a stigma for having half-shields, although not to the same degree as it was before.  It was more of a European thing in the past, but more and more players are starting to wise up.  You never see an enforcer wear a visor of any sort unless they are nursing an injury already.  Unless the leagues started to require them, many would shy away because they don't want to be perceived as soft.

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I agree with tnt. Unless the league forces the change nothing is going to happen. Wouldn't it be easy to force all Rookies to wear at least partial masks and just Grandfather the rule in. In a couple of years you would at least have the half sheilds. I think it would be too much to go for the full sheilds off the start, even though that would be the best idea.

[defensivend]

Actually from the EChl down it is madatory to wear at least half shields. Not sure why the AHL,or NHL don't see fit to put it as a rule. A couple of years ago when O'Connell was playing in the Ahl he got an elbow to the eye and it broke his orbital bone in two places which he now has two metal plates holding the bone together.

[ESPNInsider]

Actually from the EChl down it is madatory to wear at least half shields. Not sure why the AHL,or NHL don't see fit to put it as a rule. A couple of years ago when O'Connell was playing in the Ahl he got an elbow to the eye and it broke his orbital bone in two places which he now has two metal plates holding the bone together.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sure the NHLPA would bitch about this!

[DanHFboards]

I'm hoping for Nick's full recovery with no vision loss. Coyotes GM Michael Barnett's own pro career was cut short by an eye injury, so he was sensitive to getting Nick down to Phoenix. He's the NHL's leading proponent for mandantory visors. The last two years he's met individually with the Coyote players and asked them to wear a visor. Some have tried it and quit. One or two have stuck with it. The PA does not want eye/face protection shoved down their throats. They feel that careless stickwork would be worse if everyone wore a visor. Many NHL GM's are also on their side.

[dagies]

I wonder if a few more sticks across the plastic shield might be a whorthwhile price for saving a few eyeballs.

[siouxrunner]

Exactamundo, as Arthur Fonzarelli would say.

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First, I wish Nick a full and speedy recovery. I truly feel he has the skills to play for a long time at the professional level.

Having played hockey both with a full facemask and without any mask, I would play with no mask at all if given the choice. I guess I might consider wearing a half-shield, but I've never used one, so I'd have to try it first.

Playing without a mask improves your vision on the ice immensely. I know, you don't really see the mask when you're playing, but once you take it off, you can really tell that there is a big difference. It would be my guess that most of UND's team would wear either a half-shield or no mask if given the chance.

Also, I have to say I disagree that mandating half-shields would be worth the effort, even if it meant more high-stick play. While the shields obviously provide protection, the number of eye injuries would most likely be higher than it is now, just because players would be more careless with their sticks up high.

If hockey officials (league reps, etc.) required the players to wear shields, fewer players would choose to play in that league, and the quality of play would be less. Also, I believe it would encourage more illegal and reckless stick work because A) the players will think they can't hurt others with high sticks and therefore be more careless, and B) because they won't have to deal with getting hit in the face by the retaliation (high-stick, punches, etc.) if they stick someone on purpose.

Players at the elite level, like Nick, know the risks of choosing not to wear a facemask. They may feel pressured to not wear a mask because of pressure from others on the team, but ultimately, wearing one or not is the decision of the individual. The choice should be left up to the individual player, not mandated by the league that player belongs to.

[CVCL]

Article from today's GF Herald on Nick.

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/sports/11438191.htm

[dagies]

Well, that at least provides hope. Good luck, Nick.

[skateshattrick]

First, I wish Nick a full and speedy recovery. I truly feel he has the skills to play for a long time at the professional level.

Having played hockey both with a full facemask and without any mask, I would play with no mask at all if given the choice. I guess I might consider wearing a half-shield, but I've never used one, so I'd have to try it first.

Playing without a mask improves your vision on the ice immensely. I know, you don't really see the mask when you're playing, but once you take it off, you can really tell that there is a big difference. It would be my guess that most of UND's team would wear either a half-shield or no mask if given the chance.

Also, I have to say I disagree that mandating half-shields would be worth the effort, even if it meant more high-stick play. While the shields obviously provide protection, the number of eye injuries would most likely be higher than it is now, just because players would be more careless with their sticks up high.

If hockey officials (league reps, etc.) required the players to wear shields, fewer players would choose to play in that league, and the quality of play would be less. Also, I believe it would encourage more illegal and reckless stick work because A) the players will think they can't hurt others with high sticks and therefore be more careless, and B) because they won't have to deal with getting hit in the face by the retaliation (high-stick, punches, etc.) if they stick someone on purpose.

Players at the elite level, like Nick, know the risks of choosing not to wear a facemask. They may feel pressured to not wear a mask because of pressure from others on the team, but ultimately, wearing one or not is the decision of the individual. The choice should be left up to the individual player, not mandated by the league that player belongs to.

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