Big updates on Backes and Sabourin following terrible incident earlier this season.

Earlier in the season, during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators, fans of the National Hockey League were witness to one of the scarier moments we have had in the sport of hockey for quite some time. I am of course referring to the now infamous collision that occurred between gritty Ottawa Senators forward Scott Sabourin and veteran Boston Bruins forward David Backes.

It was a terrible incident that saw both men collide on what should have been a routine body check, but an incident that turned out to be anything but routine. It was Scott Sabourin who initiated the contact on Backes attempting to punish the big Bruins forward for being somewhat slow on a long pass across the neutral zone, and although both men came together cleanly the whiplash on their respective heads made this a catastrophic hit. Their heads would smash together and although it initially appeared as though only Sabourin was injured on the play, we would later learn that Backes himself had also suffered a significant injury.

In the case of Scott Sabourin the impact knocked him unconscious immediately, causing him to crash into the ice face first only further adding to the injuries he suffered. Sabourin would have to be stretchered off the ice following the incident and was immediately taken to hospital where he stayed overnight under the supervision of medical professionals. Sabourin would provide an update form his hospital bed but outside of that we had not heard much regarding his health since.

As for David Backes the veteran forward would suffer a significant concussion as a result of the impact and given that Sabourin was knocked out cold I suppose that should come as little surprise. Backes however made headlines across North America not for his injuries that night but due to the emotional way in which he reacted to the Sabourin injury, this in spite of the fact that Sabourin was an opposing player. 

I am happy to report however that we now have good news to share on both men, surprisingly with both updates occurring on the very same day. According to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe David Backes was back out on the ice today three weeks after his initial injury, although at this time he is still wearing a non-contact jersey signifying that he is not yet healthy enough to resume regular practice. Nonetheless any progress from Backes at this point is good news.

Additionally we also received an update on the other man involved in this incident when Ottawa Senators insider Bruce Garrioch shared some information on Scott Sabourin. Sabourin participated in a skill session earlier this morning according to Garrioch and the Senators insider was even able to snap a picture of Sabourin out on the ice with some of his teammates.

It is truly terrific to hear that both men are now truly starting to work their way back from what was such a terrible incident, and hopefully they will make a full recovery from the injuries they suffered on that terrible day. We wish them both a speedy journey back on what remains of their recovery process.