Columbus Blue Jackets Forward Retains Sight After Skate To Face

By Cory Buck | Oct 25, 2014

Oct 23, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) takes a shot on goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson had a scare when the skate of an Anaheim Ducks player cut him in the eye. Fortunately, he retained vision in that eye.

A flailing skate nearly cost Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson his sight in one eye. Reports have since surfaced that Atkinson will be just fine, which comes as a relief not just to Atkinson and his family, but to the Blue Jackets, who are currently fighting for early high ground in the Eastern Conference of the NHL.

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The play appears harmless enough with Atkinson challenging Ryan Kesler as Kesler entered the zone on a power play. Kesler’s leg kicks back as he passes Atkinson though and catches the young forward under the eye, as seen below.

The announcers first assume it’s a high stick, but a closer look reveals what really happened. The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline later tweeted though that Atkinson retained vision, as the cut was below his eye.

Coach Todd Richards said of Atkinson, per Rob Mixer, “He’s not as pretty as he once was, but he’s in good spirits.”

It’s hard to blame Atkinson if he wants to do a tap dance after finding out he didn’t lose an eye after all. Who knows how he felt in the moment he fell to the ice with that cut.

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