Opening night for the Vancouver Canucks against the Calgary Flames was a rollercoaster. The hosts let a 4-1 lead slip away, eventually losing 6-5 in overtime, but the most nerve-wracking moment had nothing to do with the score.
JT Miller delivered a big hit on Kevin Rooney. Rooney was down, motionless, and it looked severe.
While the hit seemed dirty in real time, the replay showed that was a hockey play. Still, seeing Rooney down and out was a reminder of how brutal the sport can be sometimes.
The focus now is on Rooney's recovery, and the hockey community hopes he avoided a concussion that'll keep him out long-term. It's moments like this that remind us what's really important: the health and safety of the players.