Boston Bruins: Malcolm Subban and Jeremy Lauzon Ready To Move Forward
For goalie Malcolm Subban and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, there must have been a tremendous sense of relief as they took to the ice yesterday at the 10th Annual Boston Bruins Development Camp. Both are coming off of serious neck injuries suffered last year.
Malcolm Subban wants a shot to play for the Boston Bruins this season.
The first injury was suffered by Subban, who was struck in the throat with a puck during warm-ups prior to facing the Portland Pirates on February 6th in Maine. The 22-year-old didn’t think it was a big deal, but the next day he learned he had fractured his larynx, and that surgery would be necessary.
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What then ensued was a five day stay in the hospital, and an eight week recovery, which obviously meant his season ended the moment the puck hit his throat. During the recovery he was unable to speak for parts of it, so he used his phone to write out messages to the hospital staff.
The injury also derailed a season in which Subban had solid numbers. A 14-8-5 record, along with a .911 save percentage and a respectable 2.44 goals against average and playing as well as he had in his brief professional career. Subban told reporters yesterday that he feels like a tank, and isn’t concerned about getting hit again. That is probably due in part to the fact he will now wear a neck guard.
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The next serious neck injury suffered by someone within the Bruins organization took place roughly nine weeks later. Lauzon plays for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and during the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs in a game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, the left shot defenseman was battling for the puck behind his net, fell to the ice and then had an opponent’s skate blade lacerate his neck.
What followed was emergency surgery to reattach a nerve and muscle that had been separated. Lauzon was told he could have lost the mobility of his right arm, which would have ended his hockey career. The injury also could have been lethal, and brought back memories of Clint Malarchuk and his devastating injury.
Lauzon was 18 at the time of the injury, and the 6’4″, 205 lb. defenseman was coming off of a solid season in which he had 15 goals and 21 assists in 60 games, along with a +12. In true hockey fashion, the second round pick of the Bruins in the 2015 draft was back in time for the Memorial Cup Playoffs.