Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman was hit by a driver while walking in Utah on Monday, the NHL team said.
The accident happened near 200 East and 500 South in Salt Lake City, according to a Salt Lake Police Department report. Dispatchers were called at 2:55 p.m.
The team was in Salt Lake City preparing for a game against Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Heineman sustained an “upper-body injury,” the Canadiens said.
“We are awaiting an update from North America. He has been hit by a car, nothing too serious. Maybe a broken wrist. A specialist will have a look at the injury,” his agent Marcus Isaksson said to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
According to the police report, neither the person who made the report nor Heineman was at the scene when police arrived to investigate. Officers later learned that Heineman was an NHL player and that he had been treated by team doctors.
“I just know that he got hurt crossing the street yesterday. I don’t think it was at a high speed, but enough to cause some damage. So, it’s unfortunate,” Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis said.
The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. No other details about the crash were released.
Heineman is expected to miss three to four weeks with the injury, the team announced.
His teammates found out about the incident shortly after it happened.
“We were just at the hotel. We were actually playing some cards and then we found out. He texted in our chat because we were kind of planning for dinner and he said, ‘I have a funny story for you guys,’” forward Michael Pezzetta said. “It’s unfortunate because he’s been playing such great hockey and he’s a great guy.”
Heineman has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) through 41 games with Montreal this season. His team is playing its first game in Utah, at Delta Center, Tuesday night.
