Hockey player sues opponent over body check she says led to serious injuries in Michigan
A hockey player in Michigan is suing after she says her opponent body checked her during a college game, leading to her suffering serious injuries.
On Feb. 19, 2023, the Michigan State University Spartans women’s ice hockey team hosted an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II club game against the Adrian Bulldogs in East Lansing, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court on Sept. 5, then moved to federal court on Dec. 3, court records show.
McClatchy News reached out to the Michigan State University Spartans women’s hockey team for comment but did not immediately hear back.
At the time of the incident, the Adrian College hockey player was “positioned near the Spartan net,” the lawsuit said.
The opponent skated toward the player and “violently” checked her with the “force of her entire body,” the court document said. This caused the Adrian player to hit the ice and lose consciousness, according to the suit.
The lawsuit says the body check was “outside of the rules of play” because there was no play on the puck.
The ACHA rule book says “body checking is not permitted in any area of the ice” in women’s hockey. The Michigan State player was issued a major penalty during the game, records show.
She created a “dangerous situation” that led her opponent to have spinal fractures, persistent headaches, memory loss, impaired cognitive ability and more, according to the lawsuit.
The Adrian player also missed out on wages due to limitations from her injuries, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit is asking for over $25,000 in damages.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Hockey player sues opponent over body check she says led to serious injuries in Michigan."
