BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Michael Campoli was stretchered off the ice this morning with his neck stabilized after getting hit into boards late in a three-on-three development camp scrimmage.
Campoli, 18, was knocked by William Carrier and tried to skate off the HarborCenter ice before falling down. Campoli, a defenseman, stayed motionless on the ice for about 20 minutes surrounded by team medical personnel and the Buffalo Fire Department.
New Update: The Sabres and Campoli have tweeted he left the hospital this afternoon “feeling good.”
Update: Sabres general manager Tim Murray had no formal update on Campoli.
“He was obviously speaking and joking a little bit and he was moving his extremities a little bit,” Murray said.
He added: “I thought it was a good hit, an unfortunate ending we’re all concerned about it. Up to that point … I thought it could have been a touch more competitive. Maybe we have a lot of young guys who thought it was like shinny or a scrimmage.”
Carrier said the hit “was a clean check.”
“I think he just lost balance,” he said. “I think he went backwards. I think he hit his head, tried to get up and hit his head again.”
Campoli was eventually placed on a board and wheeled off the ice in an upright position as the 1,000 or so fans, who had stayed silent, erupted in applause. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
The scrimmage, the last part of camp, has resumed. Campoli is an invite from the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
Stayed tuned for updates for Campoli.
Thanks for all the get well wishes! I'm out of the hospital and feeling good! Big thanks to the @BuffaloSabres organization #Sabres
— Michael Campoli (@michaelcampoli) July 12, 2016