With three minutes left in the second SC final game, Hiirikoski fell in his own zone and was hit by a Brynäs player’s skate. The rail hit the 35-year-old’s neck and the match was interrupted while the Luleå star received treatment.
There must have been no ambulance on site at the arena in Luleå – it took around half an hour before it arrived and could take Hiirikoski to hospital – but fortunately the wound was not deep.
Late in the evening, Jenni Hiirikoski sent a greeting.
“Today I was involved in a very scary incident on the ice. But after being operated on in hospital, I feel fine and have already been able to go home,” writes Hiirikoski on Instagram.
In the accompanying picture of the post, she is sitting up in the hospital bed with a bandage on the side of her neck and giving a thumbs up.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped me, both on the ice and in the hospital. I am extremely grateful for everything you did for me.”
The match resumed shortly after the incident and Luleå was able to hold on for victory, 5–3. The team leads the final series with 2–0 in matches and can secure the SM gold as early as Monday evening.