Joel Ward spent his morning stuck in a hotel bathroom. The lock on the Dallas Omni bathroom door wouldn’t give, but lucky for Ward his teammates were around to save him. Well, some of them saved him; others documented the ordeal and shared it with the Internet. Because #Friendship.

Hockey players are just like us.

Realizing his situation at 9:27 AM, Ward phoned teammate Karl Alzner with a simple message: “Save me.”

(Note to self: Always bring your phone into the bathroom, because stuff like this can happen. Also, Candy Crush.)

Alzner brought along his roommate and brother-from-another-mother, John Carlson, and Omni employees to mount the rescue, which involved a ladder and lots of tools.

Photo: @JohnCarlson74

44 minutes later (!), Ward was freed.

Photo: @JohnCarlson74

One of the few times it’s acceptable to hug in the bathroom.

Tonight’s game is destined be a letdown after all this excitement.

@JRandalWard42 just turn the handle haha — Troy Brouwer (@TroyBrouwer36) October 5, 2013

Headline photo: @JRandalWard42