**We are re-running our in-depth article from the 2015-16 season**



"Ovechkin hit me in my ear and took my ear off. They had to sew it back on. That was pretty bad."



Matt Hendricks nonchalantly rattled off some of the crazy injuries he’s suffered during his NHL career. Indeed, while with the Washington Capitals in 2012, Hendricks sustained a gruesome injury in practice when an Alex Ovechkin shot deflected off the glass and rocketed into his head. It severed a good chunk of his ear, which had to be sewn back together.



Hendricks leans forward in his stall, bends and carefully loosens the laces on his skates. What lies beneath those skates tells a story of sacrifice.



He didn’t mean to get hit by Ovechkin’s shot in practice. But now, when he plays against his former teammate, Hendricks willingly steps into the line of fire. Blocking shots is just another day at the office for Hendricks, as well as many other players around the league, which is an often overlooked and under-appreciated sacrifice.





Hendricks' ankle was the size of a cantaloupe.



Not surprising, considering 6-foot-6, 210-pound Dougie Hamilton drilled a slap shot directly into the bone on the inside of his right ankle during the Oilers game in Calgary on October 17. Little did Hendricks know that beneath his skate, the impact of the shot was so much that it caused a gruesome-looking pressure cut, as well as frightful swelling.



That was months ago.



“It still freaking looks like that. It hasn’t gone down,” said Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot.



That blocked shot caused Hendricks to miss seven games.



“That was a tough one. I think that’s the exception, not the rule,” said Oilers forward Rob Klinkhammer. “The majority of times, guys just get hit. It’s a bruise or something and you only need a little ice. He took a huge pressure cut there. That will probably be with him the rest of his life.”



Hendricks brushes off the pain.



“It wasn’t too bad,” he said. “It hurt, but I really didn’t know I was cut open and stuff until after the game when I finally took my skate off.”



While Hendricks takes an unconcerned tone when addressing that particular incident, pictures of the injury make most people cringe.



It’s unfortunate for Hendricks. He went down when he was being very effective for the Oilers. Todd McLellan recalls that night in Calgary.



“He had a tremendous game,” said the head coach. “We appreciate that block. It’s unfortunate that it kept him out of the lineup for as long as it did. Obviously, the health part of it, for the next week he wasn’t feeling very good. You hope a guy can block a shot and not have to go through that. That’s one of those situations where he’s got one of those wounds and he can show everyone later on and equate it to a shot block.”



Hendricks sits in his stall at Rexall Place. He has to think. What is the worst injury he’s had from blocking a shot?



Anton Lander goes to one knee to block a shot against San Jose. Photo by Andy Devlin.

The Oilers winger, moments before this sit-down, finished regaling the media with a blunt account of his latest close call. In their game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 29, right off a faceoff, a stick narrowly missed his eye, but did leave its mark. Stitches were required on and around his eyelid, and the area now features a distinct yellow hue.



Hendricks is no stranger to the bumps, breaks, bruises, cuts and soreness associated with being a professional athlete. He’s also no stranger to these close calls.



If not for his quick reaction, lifting his stick in defence, a Zdeno Chara slap shot would have caught Hendricks between the eyes. Remember that time his ear was severed at practice? His knees and ankles have taken a beating as well.



His most recent close call convinced him to begin wearing a visor. But there’s no bump, bruise or cut that has convinced him to not block shots.



“Shea Weber hit me last year in the knee, in an area that caused a lot of problems for me for quite a while.”



He pauses.



“My ankles, my right ankle specifically, you saw the picture of the injury I had from the Calgary game. There’s been a lot of problems with that ankle over the last 10 years, just from getting hit with pucks.”



“I had an incident in Colorado where I ended up getting a staph infection in that same ankle. Infection is always a major issue with skates and stuff, bacteria, and there’s a lot of things that go into it. I don’t think of it that much. It’s just part of what I have to do to play this game and help my team out.”



It’s just a part of his world.



“I’ve had good years and bad years,” he said. “I’ve had years where they don’t seem to hurt as bad. You seem to get them in areas where they don’t hurt. But I think the last few years, I’ve been put into more situations to block more shots. I think my numbers have gone up in that regard. Playing the numbers game, you’re going to feel a few more.” Not surprising, considering 6-foot-6, 210-pound Dougie Hamilton drilled a slap shot directly into the bone on the inside of his right ankle during the Oilers game in Calgary on October 17. Little did Hendricks know that beneath his skate, the impact of the shot was so much that it caused a gruesome-looking pressure cut, as well as frightful swelling.That was months ago.“It still freaking looks like that. It hasn’t gone down,” said Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot.That blocked shot caused Hendricks to miss seven games.“That was a tough one. I think that’s the exception, not the rule,” said Oilers forward Rob Klinkhammer. “The majority of times, guys just get hit. It’s a bruise or something and you only need a little ice. He took a huge pressure cut there. That will probably be with him the rest of his life.”Hendricks brushes off the pain.“It wasn’t too bad,” he said. “It hurt, but I really didn’t know I was cut open and stuff until after the game when I finally took my skate off.”While Hendricks takes an unconcerned tone when addressing that particular incident, pictures of the injury make most people cringe.It’s unfortunate for Hendricks. He went down when he was being very effective for the Oilers. Todd McLellan recalls that night in Calgary.“He had a tremendous game,” said the head coach. “We appreciate that block. It’s unfortunate that it kept him out of the lineup for as long as it did. Obviously, the health part of it, for the next week he wasn’t feeling very good. You hope a guy can block a shot and not have to go through that. That’s one of those situations where he’s got one of those wounds and he can show everyone later on and equate it to a shot block.”Hendricks sits in his stall at Rexall Place. He has to think. What is the worst injury he’s had from blocking a shot?The Oilers winger, moments before this sit-down, finished regaling the media with a blunt account of his latest close call. In their game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 29, right off a faceoff, a stick narrowly missed his eye, but did leave its mark. Stitches were required on and around his eyelid, and the area now features a distinct yellow hue.Hendricks is no stranger to the bumps, breaks, bruises, cuts and soreness associated with being a professional athlete. He’s also no stranger to these close calls.If not for his quick reaction, lifting his stick in defence, a Zdeno Chara slap shot would have caught Hendricks between the eyes. Remember that time his ear was severed at practice? His knees and ankles have taken a beating as well.His most recent close call convinced him to begin wearing a visor. But there’s no bump, bruise or cut that has convinced him to not block shots.“Shea Weber hit me last year in the knee, in an area that caused a lot of problems for me for quite a while.”He pauses.“My ankles, my right ankle specifically, you saw the picture of the injury I had from the Calgary game. There’s been a lot of problems with that ankle over the last 10 years, just from getting hit with pucks.”“I had an incident in Colorado where I ended up getting a staph infection in that same ankle. Infection is always a major issue with skates and stuff, bacteria, and there’s a lot of things that go into it. I don’t think of it that much. It’s just part of what I have to do to play this game and help my team out.”It’s just a part of his world.“I’ve had good years and bad years,” he said. “I’ve had years where they don’t seem to hurt as bad. You seem to get them in areas where they don’t hurt. But I think the last few years, I’ve been put into more situations to block more shots. I think my numbers have gone up in that regard. Playing the numbers game, you’re going to feel a few more.”



"How bad is it gonna hurt?"



That’s what goes through Darnell Nurse’s mind in the split-second he realizes a shot is coming.



“There’s a lot of things we do on the ice out there that would lead you to think we’re mental,” quipped the Oilers rookie defenceman. “It’s definitely not an easy thing, but as a player it’s something you’ve got to be willing to do.”



While Nurse says he thinks about the pain he may experience upon blocking a shot, there really is no hesitation to do it.



“For players nowadays, it’s kind of like a second nature to get in front of shots and block them or try to get a piece of the puck. Every team does it. I think the first thing that goes through your mind is ‘am I in the lane?’ Then, you’re just waiting to feel it.”



Darnell Nurse (25) skates off the ice, wincing in pain after blocking a shot with his left arm in a game against Winnipeg. Photo by Andy Devlin.

You try to be in the right position. That’s first and foremost. If you can do that, you may save yourself the pain.



“If you’re in good position, you can avoid the hurt part and actually you can avoid the shot blocking part because you can take the shot away and maybe get them to dump it or whatever. It’s the desperation ones that are tough. You’re not as close to the shooter as you’d like to be, maybe you’re further back,” said McLellan.



The moment you decide to put yourself between your net and a shooter, it becomes a waiting game. You don’t have to wait long, but there’s a slight layer of anxiety attached to your decision.



“You try to be in the lane, but you don’t always know. It happens so fast that sometimes you don’t know if you’re actually in the lane. The d-men are so good now that they can change the angle real quick with a little toe drag or side step. It’s actually quite tough to get in the lane nowadays, but it’s a nervous anticipation. You’re just waiting for that sting or hoping it hits the padding,” Klinkhammer explained.



Klinkhammer, who says he’s broken both feet right where the laces are, knows the pain of taking a shot in the wrong spot.



“It hurts a lot. It’s like somebody whacking you with a crowbar. A 95-100 mph slap-shot right on the bone, lots of time that bone breaks. It’s pretty painful. It’s not fun to do.”



Stepping in front of a fast-moving chunk of vulcanized rubber, risking injury, isn’t something for everyone. So why do players do it?



“You know it’s going to hurt, but you don’t do it for your own personal gains, you do it for the team,” said Hendricks. “For me, there’s nothing better than coming back from the bench after blocking a shot. The guys on the bench are patting you on the back and saying, ‘great job.’ It’s about sacrifice. Other guys do it in different ways. Blocking shots is one of the ways that I help.”



Nurse once blocked three consecutive one-timers with the same leg in a junior game.



“Those weren’t fun,” he understated.



Not fun, but he was ready to make that sacrifice. And the reception the wincing, sore Nurse got when he skated to the bench made it worth the risk.



“It makes it all worth it. It makes blocking that shot worth it.”



Pain reliever.



Ice.



Repeat.



Get back out there. That’s what goes through Darnell Nurse’s mind in the split-second he realizes a shot is coming.“There’s a lot of things we do on the ice out there that would lead you to think we’re mental,” quipped the Oilers rookie defenceman. “It’s definitely not an easy thing, but as a player it’s something you’ve got to be willing to do.”While Nurse says he thinks about the pain he may experience upon blocking a shot, there really is no hesitation to do it.“For players nowadays, it’s kind of like a second nature to get in front of shots and block them or try to get a piece of the puck. Every team does it. I think the first thing that goes through your mind is ‘am I in the lane?’ Then, you’re just waiting to feel it.”You try to be in the right position. That’s first and foremost. If you can do that, you may save yourself the pain.“If you’re in good position, you can avoid the hurt part and actually you can avoid the shot blocking part because you can take the shot away and maybe get them to dump it or whatever. It’s the desperation ones that are tough. You’re not as close to the shooter as you’d like to be, maybe you’re further back,” said McLellan.The moment you decide to put yourself between your net and a shooter, it becomes a waiting game. You don’t have to wait long, but there’s a slight layer of anxiety attached to your decision.“You try to be in the lane, but you don’t always know. It happens so fast that sometimes you don’t know if you’re actually in the lane. The d-men are so good now that they can change the angle real quick with a little toe drag or side step. It’s actually quite tough to get in the lane nowadays, but it’s a nervous anticipation. You’re just waiting for that sting or hoping it hits the padding,” Klinkhammer explained.Klinkhammer, who says he’s broken both feet right where the laces are, knows the pain of taking a shot in the wrong spot.“It hurts a lot. It’s like somebody whacking you with a crowbar. A 95-100 mph slap-shot right on the bone, lots of time that bone breaks. It’s pretty painful. It’s not fun to do.”Stepping in front of a fast-moving chunk of vulcanized rubber, risking injury, isn’t something for everyone. So why do players do it?“You know it’s going to hurt, but you don’t do it for your own personal gains, you do it for the team,” said Hendricks. “For me, there’s nothing better than coming back from the bench after blocking a shot. The guys on the bench are patting you on the back and saying, ‘great job.’ It’s about sacrifice. Other guys do it in different ways. Blocking shots is one of the ways that I help.”Nurse once blocked three consecutive one-timers with the same leg in a junior game.“Those weren’t fun,” he understated.Not fun, but he was ready to make that sacrifice. And the reception the wincing, sore Nurse got when he skated to the bench made it worth the risk.“It makes it all worth it. It makes blocking that shot worth it.”Pain reliever.Ice.Repeat.Get back out there.