ECHL linesman Charlie O’Connor was injured after being cut by a skate during Sunday’s game between the Orlando Solar Bears and Atlanta Gladiators.
O’Connor fell to the ice after colliding with Atlanta’s Don Olivieri along the boards. As the Gladiators’ Brett MacKenzie lined up Orlando’s Tayler Thompson for a body check into the boards, he appeared to pull up, spotting the linesman down on the ice. Thompson crashed into O’Connor, his skate blade making contact with O’Connor’s hand flat on the ice.
O’Connor rushed off the ice where he was treated by the medical staff. The game continued with a two-man crew of referee Eric Krasnichuk and linesman Randy Dengler.
ECHL Director of Officiating Stephen Thomson provided an update on O’Connor’s condition Wednesday.
Charlie is home in Tampa, Florida recovering from surgery that took place on his left hand. He will be making a full recovery and be back on the ice in no time! On behalf of the ECHL I would like to personally thank Joshua Chapman, Head Athletic Trainer for the Orlando Solar Bears and local EMS for their quick and decisive response to a critical situation. Although the injury was not life threatening, it could have been certainly life altering.Charlie would like to personally thank Josh and his team of trainers, as well as the EMS staff at the Amway Center for the attentive care he received. He would also like to acknowledge all of the Coaches, General Managers, Presidents, Players, Officiating Teammates, and everyone else who has sent their well wishes over the past few days.
