Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek goes onto the rink during practice Jan 7 2013.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Here, in every word, was how Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle put the odd situation on Tuesday morning when he informed the media that defenceman Mike Komisarek wouldn't be playing against the Buffalo Sabres that night.
"Komisarek, at the end of practice yesterday, experienced a little fibreglass chip in the eye," Carlyle said. "So he saw a doctor yesterday afternoon and they put a suture in the eyeball. They cleared him to play, but we felt it'd be best served to settle it down for a day."
But how did he come to experience fibreglass in his eye, exactly?
"It was one of those things that you'd like to take back in your life I think," Carlyle said. "When you do something stupid. It was crazy."
So, on Wednesday, Komisarek was welcomed off the ice after practice by a huge contingent of media, all of whom were curious for an explanation as to what happened.
His right eye appeared to be cut up and red in the corner, as if it had experienced a little fibreglass (or some other trauma).
"I slammed my stick and the next thing you know the blade breaks a bunch of graphite goes in my eye and my face and I had to go see the eye specialist," Komisarek said. "And have it removed. In the end, I had a little stitch in the eyeball.
"Mark that down as a first for me and something that I don't want to do again. It was a bad accident and, at the end of the day, don't take it out on your stick and try and hit the net. It's not the stick's fault."
The damage wasn't as bad as it could have been. Komisarek said his stick blade had pieces that were clear and white, which made it exceptionally difficult for trainers to try and flush them out the eye.
That turned into an anxious hour or so as the eye was worked on.
"It could have been a lot worse," Komisarek said. "It's definitely my fault. I had one piece of graphite in my eye that was pretty deep. It was definitely scary going through it. Luckily it wasn't anything serious and the doc was able to pull it out after digging in my eyeball for an hour.
"I survived and I'm here talking to you and I see all you guys just fine. More than anything, your pride's a little hurt. We won't take it out on the stick next time."
This hardly stands as the strangest injury for an NHL player. Who could forget, for one, Erik Johnson putting himself out for the year after crashing during an alleged golf cart polo game?
Or Craig Anderson slicing up his hand cutting frozen chicken?
Or John Vanbiesbrouck falling through a glass coffee table.
And on and on they go.