NHL.com · Jan 22, 2016
Blue Jackets, fans soak in scene at outdoor practice
COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets players, despite an injury to coach John Tortorella, were having such a good time skating outside it was hard for many to leave.
Tortorella fell on his back about 20 minutes into the Blue Jackets' first outdoor skate, held Friday morning in McFerson Park across from Nationwide Arena, after forward Rene Bourque hit a rut and undercut him. Tortorella left the ice and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. No updates were provided.
The practice essentially ended after that, so the players did shootout drills for a while before leaving the ice a few at a time. Some stayed more than 45 minutes after the accident to soak up the atmosphere.