In Saturday’s game between Mora IK and HV71, Maple Leafs prospect Pierre Engvall was seriously hurt and required surgery today after a hit from Micheal Haga.
You can see the hit below as Haga in red takes out Engvall, 88 in white.
Mora is Engvall’s former team, but Haga is a new recruit this season. Engvall has been playing on the fourth line on the defending champions, HV71, and has one goal and three assists in eight games.
According to news reports, Engvall is likely to miss many months of playing time, perhaps the full season. The injury is a fractured clavicle.
"We did X-rays up here and it confirmed the suspicion that it's a fracture. He is being operated on in Jönköping tomorrow (Sunday) and is probably gone all year. But we know clearly more precisely when the surgery has been completed," said HV71's physiotherapist Andreas Frostemark after the match.
After the surgery the timeline seemed more rosy:
The HV71 doctor Jonas Kalman performed the operation on Sunday morning.
“It went as expected. We expect that it will take around three months before Pierre can play again. In one to two weeks he can start training the lower body and start skating,” says Kalman.
Haga received a three-game suspension for the incident and may also be fined. The disciplinary board of the SHL noted that Haga did not attempt to play the puck, the hit had an upward motion, and it had a strong likelihood of causing harm.
The Leafs’ rights to Engvall expire this summer, and after his very brief tour with the Marlies last spring where he appeared in one game, this season, his first in the SHL, was crucial for making an impression.
Of course, we all wish him the best and a speedy recovery.