Photo Credit: USATSI
The Columbus Blue Jackets held an outdoor practice on Friday at Winter Park. The practice was going well and the team’s only concern was the dropping temperature. That is, until head coach John Tortorella was injured during a drill.
During a drill Tortorella and Blue Jackets left winger Rene Bourque collided, and Tortorella fell to the ice. The collision itself was described as “nasty” but the awkward manner in which Tortorella fell is most attributed to the injury he sustained.
Tortorella remained down on the ice for a few moments until he was escorted off the ice by the medical staff. It was later made known that Tortorella suffered two fractured ribs in the awkward fall he took to the ice.
An update on #CBJ head coach John Tortorella: he suffered two broken ribs after a collision in today's practice.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 22, 2016
Bourque later stated that he had hit a rut in the ice that had sent him falling, causing his collision with his coach and causing them both to fall. He also said that he was blindsided and wasn’t sure who he had collided with until after he had hit the ice.
Initially, Blue Jackets president John Davidson said that Tortorella’s back locked up and that he would be available to travel with the team to their next matchup. It was later revealed that Tortorella would be unable to travel with the team to Boston for the game. Associate coach Craig Hartsburg led the team into Boston for the game instead.
It is still unknown when Tortorella will resume his role as head coach, but until then Hartsburg will lead the team. The Boston Bruins and their head coach Claude Julien, as well as many players, sent their wishes for a speedy recovery to Tortorella and are hoping to see him return soon.
Julien sent best wishes to Tortorella. "Hopefully he's feeling better…He's a tough guy. I'm sure he'll be back at it before you know it"
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 23, 2016
