Emile Andre misses the SHL premiere of newcomer HV71.
In general rope, the upper back got a shot in the face and had to get 30 stitches.
It was a hell of a hit, the first match was really bad, says the 20-year-old.
Emil Andrae is waiting at the dentist and has trouble speaking because of the swelling when Sportbladet reaches him on the phone.
In his last training match against Djurgården at Björkängshallen in Huddinge, he was hit in the face with a puck shot from opponent Kevin Carlson.
– He jumped in front of me and then I didn’t see the shot. I just narrowed down and collapsed, says Emile Andre.
Blood running on the ice
With the help of his teammates, he was taken to the changing room and then urgently taken to the hospital.
– I was really groggy, but my head seems to have worked and I remember everything. There was a lot of blood flowing, but I didn’t have time to think much, says Emil Andray.
In total, 30 stitches had to be sewn into his jaw and it was severely swollen the next day.
Difficulty eating and yawning with stitches. I don’t take painkillers and it still hurts badly. I can’t eat any proper food, but I have to eat liquid food until it heals, says Emil Andray.
You don’t want to risk infection
At the premiere of SHL plays HV71 against Lulea at Norrbotten on Saturday night.
It is quite clear that Emile Andre will miss his long-awaited first match since his return to the top flight.
– The decision was made in consultation with the team of doctors, to take the safe side before the unknown. Emil Andray says the jaw needs to heal, I should be able to eat and the swelling should go down so there is no risk of spreading the infection.
I like the preparatory season
He and the team management hope to play next week.
HV71 plays away against Malmö next Thursday night, and the opening match will be at home in Jönköping against Licksand on Tuesday, 27 September.
– That’s what happens when you play ice hockey. If there was a playoff waiting for me, says Emil Andray, I would have played anyway.
As a junior captain crowned in the JVM and winner of the Gold Network as Hockeyallsvenskan’s Best Rookie, he is one of the most exciting players ahead of the SHL season.
HV71 beat Djurgården 3-1 and after the initial 5-4 loss away to Malmö has six straight wins in training matches.
