Charlottetown Islanders player's injury during fight a 'worst nightmare,' says QMJHL commissioner

A Prince Edward Island hockey player is recovering after a scary incident on the ice during a home game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Monday.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Ross Campbell, who's from Souris, fell to the ice and started shaking during a fight early in the third period of the Islander Day matchup at the Eastlink Centre. Neither he nor the other player involved, who also fell to the ice, was wearing a helmet at the time. 

Campbell lay prone for almost 10 minutes before being placed on a stretcher.

Late Monday, the Charlottetown Islanders said Campbell had been treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and later released. 

"We thank the staff members who responded so quickly to the incident at this afternoon's game. The Charlottetown Islanders will not be releasing any further statements on the situation," the team said in a social media post. 

QMJHL's no-fighting rule in the spotlight after key Islanders' player goes down

3 days ago

Duration 1:57

​Despite a fight during a game Monday that saw a Charlottetown Islanders player injured, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League says its ban on fighting has been working when it comes to reducing hostilities. Forward Ross Campbell fell to the ice during the fight, proceeding to start shaking before being carried off on a stretcher. 'It's always shocking, but at the same time we can't say it's a total surprise,' says a league official. CBC's Connor Lamont reports.

Campbell, 18, leads the Islanders in goals this season, and was just named the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's player of the week after notching five goals and three assists in two games. 

"It's difficult when you see a teammate get carried off on a stretcher. Easy to understand why our focus was gone toward the end [of the game]," Islanders head coach Jim Hulton told team reporter Cam Kinley after Monday afternoon's game.

"But I think we just need a day off to kind of reset, take a deep breath here." 

'It's a terrible moment' 

Fighting was banned in the QMJHL before the start of the 2023-24 season. Players can be ejected and suspended for engaging in a fight.

Mario Cecchini, the league's commissioner, said incidents like Mondays are "shocking," but not a total surprise given the culture around fights in hockey that has persisted for decades. 

"Emotions sometimes will get the better of the players and this will happen, and when I see helmets flying off during the fights, that's what I always pray for — that nobody bangs his head on the ice, and yesterday it happened. It's a terrible moment," Cecchini told CBC News. 

"What goes through my mind mostly is that it's not necessary…. So to me, what happened last night is very close to the worst nightmare that I could have."

WATCH | How the Charlottetown Islanders' Ross Campbell is giving back to his hometown:

How this Charlottetown Islander is giving back to his hometown

16 days ago

Duration 5:13

Ross Campbell is bringing Souris to Charlottetown on Friday. He’s donating Islanders tickets to families in the Souris Minor Hockey Association and to Souris Regional School. The assistant captain tells CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin what inspired Ross Campbell Night.

Cecchini said the amount of fighting in the QMJHL fell after the ban took effect. Last year, just over 30 fights occurred during the 600-plus game season, down from around 100 before the rule change.

The ban hasn't meant fewer people coming to games, either — Cecchini said five of the league's six Maritime teams have actually seen a growth in attendance since the rules took effect.

"I think we have struck a good balance right now," he said.

"We were heavily criticized for our rule, but I stand by it 1,000 per cent, of course. I think it's the right thing to do at our level."