Ducks’ Urho Vaakanainen crashes into boards, taken to UCI Medical Center

ANAHEIM — Ducks defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was stretchered off the ice after crashing hard into the end boards in the first period of a preseason game between the Ducks and the San Jose Sharks on Friday night at Honda Center.

The 23-year-old Finnish defenseman was taken to UCI Medical Center for evaluation, according to the Ducks. The team also reported that he had “full movement in his extremities and is fully conscious and alert.”

The play occurred at 9:46 of the first period after the Ducks made it 1-0 with Vaakanainen setting up Derek Grant. It appeared as though Vaakananien hit his head when he went into the end boards, and his teammates immediately knew he was in trouble. Grant quickly signaled to the bench for assistance.

It was a disquieting scene at Honda Center in the time it took for him to be loaded onto the stretcher. Vaakanainen looked alert and his eyes were open as he was loaded on to the stretcher and taken off the ice. Vaakanainen’s teammates came onto the ice and gathered around him as he was taken away.

Vaakanainen joined the Ducks last season from the Boston Bruins in the Hampus Lindholm trade in March. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Ducks in July, which will take him through the 2023-24 season.

More to come on this story.

Derick Grant makes it 1-0 pic.twitter.com/2lm3s5oHBF

— Locked on Sharks (@LockedOnSharks) October 1, 2022