Ilves’ Noora Mylläri injured her neck in the match played in Kuopio on Tuesday evening.
Mika Halonen,
Only Paloniemi
Forward of Tampere Ilves, who play in the quarterfinals in the Ice Hockey Women’s League Noora Myllari was badly injured against KalPa on Tuesday.
The situation happened in the third quarter-final match, when Ilves sought an equalizer in the final moments. Mylläri, who was looking for the puck from the corner, was tackled by a KalPa player. Mylläri flew to the side of the rink head first.
– In the situation of fighting for a corner, there was a hard contact on the back of our player. He was so detached from the wing, so he flew against it with a bad look, Ilves head coach Marjo Voutilainen described what happened.
The match was suspended for about a quarter of an hour. An ambulance was called to the scene and Mylläri was carried out of the rink on a stretcher.
– It was actually quite a confusing situation, because everyone immediately understood that it was a serious matter. Fortunately, first aid personnel were immediately on the ice.
Ingredients for even worse
Ilves announced on Wednesday that Mylläri had been taken to Kuopio University Hospital for examinations. Examinations revealed a neck fracture.
Mylläri was discharged from the hospital during the night, and the examinations continued in Tampere. According to current information, the injury does not require surgery and the prognosis for recovery is good.
– In itself, it was luck in the accident that we survived it with such minor injuries, Voutilainen said.
23-year-old Mylläri is from Vaasa. He moved from Sport to Ilves for the 2022–23 season. This season, Mylläri scored 13+13=26 in 29 matches for Ilves in the regular season.
KalPa won Tuesday’s match 2–0. Sanni Rantala scored the winning goal after half-time. Elisa Holopainen still hit an empty net after Mylläri’s injury situation.
– It certainly affected it, everyone was embarrassed and unsure of what is happening here. In that case, we would have had a chance to tie the game, but now it went like this. On the other hand, health issues like that are bigger than hockey.
The semifinal series is interrupted on Saturday
KalPa leads the match series with 2–1 wins. The match series will be interrupted for the first time for the people from Kuopio on Saturday in Tampere. If necessary, the fifth match will be played on Sunday in Kuopio.
– All the games have been really even and both have been able to win them, Voutilainen commented with satisfaction on the current series of matches.
In the other quarterfinals, Kiekko-Espoo leads TPS 2–0, HIFK Kärppi 2–0 and HPK Kuortanetta 2–0. HPK can take a decisive third victory on Wednesday night, the other two series are suspended on Thursday night.