After scary incident, Sudbury hockey coach wants tourniquets added to first aid kits

Hockey coach Dale Recollet, a former first responder, urges tourniquets in all trainers' kits after assisting a young player severely cut by a skate blade.

After a player cut open his ankle with a skate recently, a veteran coach in Greater Sudbury says it’s time to add tourniquets as standard safety equipment at hockey rinks.

Dale Recollet, a hockey coach for more than 20 years, was on the bench March 8 when his U11A Sudbury Wolves took on the Manitoulin Panthers at the arena in Little Current on Manitoulin Island.

During the warmup, Recollet noticed something was wrong on the Panthers’ bench.

“So I ran on the ice to the bench where the other coach was going to get the first aid kit,” he said.

“I asked him what’s going on? What can we do to help?”

It turned out that one of the opposing players had cut himself and was bleeding heavily. Coming from policing and being a veteran first responder for 15 years, Recollet said the first thing he thought was “a tourniquet would be useful right now … just because of how much blood you can see.”

While they were able to get the bleeding under control quickly, Recollet said the incident prompted him to encourage everyone to add a tourniquet to all trainers’ bags.

He posted on Facebook and the post received more than 25 comments and 104 shares.

“That’s just what my goal was, to get it out there,” Recollet said.

“Proper training is obviously a big thing to make sure that you know how to use a tourniquet, because you don’t want to use it when it’s not needed, because it could cause further damage.”

He is also encouraging parents and players to consider cut-resistant equipment, including cut-resistant hockey socks.

“There’s also a shirt that’s long-sleeved with a built-in neck guard, which my kids use,” Recollet said.

“There’s also cut-resistant material that’s on the wrist and on the legs … So that extra added protection (is) definitely a huge help.”

Considering changes

Officials with Hockey Canada said cut-resistant equipment isn’t currently mandated, but it’s something they’re looking into.

“Hockey Canada is reviewing whether to expand the requirements of cut-resistant equipment,” said Jeremy Knight, chief of staff of Hockey Canada.

“While there is no set deadline for this review, we continue to have discussions with our hockey and sport partners, as well as the Canadian Standards Association. Should we expand the requirements of cut-resistant equipment, we would first need to ensure that the equipment meets the safety standards and requirements set out by the CSA and Health Canada.”

Recollet said he was impressed by how everyone worked together to help the injured Manitoulin player.

“Everyone came together as a team, and in a calm manner,” he said.

“But quick and efficient, too, get that bleeding stopped… I suggest anyone … just to have standard first aid. It does work and it could save a life, for sure.”

The father of the injured Manitoulin Panthers player told CTV News that his son received stitches that should be out by Friday and he’s excited to get back on the ice soon.