Man’s Neck Slashed by Hockey Blade in Edina Rec Game; Saved by Skating Doctor

During a men’s league game at Edina’s Minnesota Made Ice Center earlier this month, Tony Proel learned an important lesson about on-ice safety.

Another player fell skates up, his blade slashing Proel’s neck, severing the artery.

A teammate told KARE 11 that as Proel clasped at his neck, blood started streaming out between his fingers.

"It actually squirted," another teammate said.

But one of Proel’s teammates stayed calm and skated over toward Proel.

Dr. Dan Gruenstein, an Amplatz Children's Hospital pediatric cardiologist, stopped the bleeding.

"I could actually see the artery severed where the blood was pulsating from," Gruenstein said. "So I just slapped my hand on it. It doesn't take a doctor to stop bleeding. Anybody with a hand can stop bleeding."

Proel left the rink on a stretcher and was taken to Fairview Southdale for stitches. There were no permanent issues, but Proel and some of his teammates have since purchased neck guards.

At Gruenstein’s prompting, KARE 11 included a picture of Proel’s laceration in its report.