In my career covering the NHL, there are five incidents that pop into my head when people ask, "What the scariest thing you've covered?"
Kurtis Foster leaving the San Jose ice and Scott Mellanby leaving the Montreal ice on stretchers after crashing into the end wall are two. Paul Laus knocking out Ken Belanger with one punch is three, and Keith Ballard, in what turned out to be his final game, convulsing on the ice after being crushed into the glass by Matt Martin is four.
The fifth was in 1999 when Cam Stewart, playing with Florida, was elbowed in the jaw by Kevin Dineen in Ottawa. Stewart, who would later play for the Wild, was out cold before he fell backward. The fact Dineen was suspended one game and Chris Wells four for going after Dineen is still one of the biggest farces I've dealt with.
Wednesday in Toronto, I reunited with "Stew," the former University of Michigan and Houston Aeros star who played 202 NHL games. He's now working for agent Kurt Overhardt as director of player development.
Stewart's career was shortened because of concussions. He had nine documented, his final one coming in the 2001 Wild preseason when Edmonton's Scott Ferguson got him with what then was a "good hockey hit" but today probably would have been a head shot despite Stewart saying he was caught with his head down.
Stewart never played again. He got to a point where he had recovered from concussion symptoms and landed a job as vice president of BiteTech, which is UnderArmour's mouthguard. But four years ago, Stewart was in a car accident, and boom, his concussion symptoms returned. He had to leave his executive job, and four years later, he still hasn't fully mended.
Losing his balance, headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, having trouble reading, depression. Stewart, now 45, has experienced it all.
The concussion spotter, criticized by some for forcing Edmonton's Connor McDavid to leave the game vs. Minnesota last Sunday because he hit his chin on the ice, maybe would have helped Stewart.