Hockey defenseman Jakub Jeřábek from Třinec has had a successful operation on his broken leg from Friday’s extra-league match against Pardubice. In a statement on the club’s website, he called on fans to stop attacking striker Richard Pánik, who was injured in a clash with him. The Steelers’ key back suffered an open fracture of the tibia and fibula, ending his season prematurely.
“First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their support. I received a lot of messages from friends, acquaintances and fans. I don’t want to shout anything, but I hope I can say that the operation went well,” said Jeřábek, who was injured in overtime. Pánik, who played for Třinec at the beginning of the season, fell at the end of the offensive action and crushed Jeřábka’s leg.
“Now it will depend on the following days, for now I’m only focusing on next week,” added Jeřábek.
It was immediately clear to all the actors on the ice and the spectators in the stands that the home defender was seriously injured. The crane was writhing on the ice and holding on to his right leg, which the doctor fixed during a few minutes of examination. The thirty-two-year-old representative left the field on a stretcher in great pain. The club announced immediately after the match that he had to go to the operating room.
“At the same time, I would like to ask everyone to stop attacking one person. Emotions belong to our sport, Ríša certainly knows that he could have reacted differently in certain situations. We all have families and loved ones, it does not belong in sport. My injury was an unfortunate accident, I don’t blame anyone. Unfortunately, this also happens sometimes in hockey,” Jeřábek pointed out.