ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Nashville Predators general manager David Poile was hit in the head with a puck at the team's morning skate Thursday prior to the game against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center.
Poile, who will serve as GM of the United States Olympic Team next week at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was taken from the locker room on a stretcher by paramedics and transported to the hospital.
Poile appeared to be groggy with a bloody nose and a black eye, but was conscious and able to walk to the stretcher with some help.
A statement released by the team said Poile "will remain in the hospital overnight for observation and evaluation, and further information will be released as it becomes available."
Predators coach Barry Trotz said Poile was standing in the tunnel leading to the bench when a puck took a funny bounce off the ice, caught the top of a stick blade and went down the tunnel, striking Poile flush.
"It was above the eye, so hopefully there's no damage to the eye, that's the first thing you worry about," Trotz said. "It was a rocket that came across, and that's the danger of being in that tunnel."
The Predators also announced that television broadcaster Pete Weber underwent a successful heart procedure Thursday morning in a St. Paul hospital.
"He is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital recovering for the next couple days before returning to Nashville. He will miss tonight’s (at Minnesota) and Saturday’s (vs. Anaheim) Predators’ games," the statement said.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.