San Jose Barracuda forward injured by illegal check to the head in game
Forward Joel Kellman was expected to fly home with the San Jose Barracuda today after an illegal check to the head knocked him out of an AHL game with the Abbotsford Canucks the night before.
In the first period of Sunday’s game in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Kellman, 27, had the puck and was skating out from behind the Canucks net when forward Vincent Arseneau’s left shoulder struck Kellman’s head, knocking out the Barracuda centerman, who landed face-first onto the ice.
Kellman remained down for several minutes before he was wheeled off in a stretcher. A team spokesman said at the first intermission that Kellman, after he had returned to the team’s locker room, was talking and responsive.
Barracuda coach Roy Sommer told this news publication that Kellman suffered a concussion, but that he was cleared to return to San Jose with the team today.
Arseneau received a match penalty for the hit. Per AHL rules, players who receive match penalties remain suspended until the league president has ruled on the incident.
Kellman, is listed at 5-foot-11, and 192 pounds. Arsenault, 29, is listed at 6-2 and 231 pounds.
#SJBarracuda forward Joel Kellman was injured by a hit to the head by #AbbyCanucks Vincent Arseneau. Kellman was taken off on a stretcher, did have some movement in legs. Arseneau was given a 5 min match penalty. pic.twitter.com/iAXSAsyj4t
— TEAL TOWN USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) November 15, 2021
Kellman signed a one-year contract with the Sharks in 2019 after six professional seasons in Sweden and the team signed him to a two-year extension in August of last year. He has nine points in 38 career NHL games with the Sharks, and 39 points in 51 games with the Barracuda.
The Barracuda beat the Canucks 3-2 in a shootout to improve to 4-4-1 on the season. Evan Weinger and Noah Gregor both scored and goalie Alexei Melnichuk made 20 saves in the win. The game had 56 minutes in penalties and two fights.
The Barracuda was initially scheduled to fly from Vancouver back to the Bay Area today, but widespread flooding and mudslides in southern British Columbia have closed several roads in and out of the city. The team, per a spokesman, was planning to cross the border into the United States and fly home from Seattle instead.
The Barracuda’s next game is Wednesday at SAP Center against the Bakersfield Condors.
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