John Tortorella fractures ribs in ‘nasty’ collision during outdoor practice

The Columbus Blue Jackets held an outdoor practice at Winter Park on Friday, which is what happens when the NHL refuses to put you in a Stadium Series game.

The wind chill made it 13 degrees, which sounds pretty uncomfortable, although slightly less uncomfortable than a coach getting bulldozed by one of his own players in those conditions.

According to Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, forward Rene Bourque and coach John Tortorella had a “nasty collision” during the practice, as Bourque rushed up the left wing and Tortorella was standing near the half wall.

Torts went down hard “twisting and falling awkwardly on hip/rump.” He remained on the ice for a few moments, before being attended to by medical staff. He skated off “gingerly” to the locker room.

Blue Jackets president John Davidson told Mitchell that Tortorella’s back “locked up.” Rob Mixer of the Blue Jackets said that Tortorella was “pretty banged up” but will make the trip with the team to Boston for Saturday’s game.

Bourque told Mitchell that he “hit a rut” which caused the nasty fall, inadvertently offering a summary of the Blue Jackets’ 2015-16 season.

Sources say Tortorella later waddled back out to the ice and yelled obscenities at the rut until it demanded a trade to Nashville.

 

UPDATE:

 

	Aaron Portzline @Aportzline
#CBJ John Tortorella has two fractured ribs 1:02 PM - 22 Jan 2016