MAJOR | Coyotes facing serious trouble after injured player was left untreated for hours
A "gap in protocol" that led to Coyotes defenceman Juuso Valimaki waiting for care for a serious facial injury sustained during a game in Dallas on November 14.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports that it's unclear whether the Coyotes or Stars violated the protocol that led to the situation, but it led to a serious lapse in a player's care.
Valimaki took a 93 MPH slap shot to the mouth against the Stars, and was dropped off at a Dallas hospital with just his wife - who happened to be on the road - and a lone Coyotes team employee.
Hospital staff eventually told Valimaki to check in at a local hotel and come back in the morning, but Seravalli reports that Valimaki's injuries were serious and in need of immediate care, and he was "unable to function".
Valimaki didn't heed their instructions and when treated hours later, he needed 55 stitches, with doctors saying he could have choked on his own blood had he gone to stay in a hotel.
Neither the Stars or Coyotes commented on the investigation beyond their awareness and cooperation.
It's not clear if either team violated the protocol in any way, but somewhere the ball was dropped leading to inadequate care for Valimaki.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/sources-coyotes-valimaki-left-at-dallas-hospital-unable-to-function-after-puck-to-face-nov-14
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