Niagara IceDogs goalie Tucker Tynan is recovering in hospital following successful surgery after suffering a skate-blade cut to his leg so gruesome that Thursday night’s game against the London Knights was cancelled.

Niagara IceDogs goalie Tucker Tynan is recovering in hospital following successful surgery after suffering a skate-blade cut to his leg so gruesome that Thursday night’s game against the London Knights was cancelled.

“Tucker’s surgery was a success. He is stable and safe in hospital. The road to recovery begins,” the team announced late Thursday.

The 17-year-old rookie goaltender was injured after colliding with a London player in the crease area early in the second period of Thursday’s game. He was tended to by trainers and paramedics on the ice for several minutes.

The severity of the injury forced officials to take the exceedingly rare step of cancelling the game.

“When you’re making a decision like this, we looked at the injury to Tucker and how the players were dealing with it,” Knights associate GM Rob Simpson said. “We thought we should cancel it. Niagara’s players know him very well and we have players on our team who have played with him, too.”

The score was 2-1 London at the time of the injury, which occurred early in the second period.

The scene in St. Catharines left many shaken. DJ Brooks, who describes himself as an IceDogs radio commentator, said “the amount of blood on the ice in Niagara is indescribable.”

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Messages from fans and teammates poured in on social media in support of the Chicago native following the incident and subsequent surgery.

“Thankful for the medical staff acting so quickly to take care of Tucker. We’re all thinking and praying for you buddy,” wrote teammate Jonah De Simone.

“The entire OHL is with you,” the Erie Otters wrote on their official Twitter account.

The IceDogs selected Tynan in the 10th round (#192 overall) in the 2018 OHL draft. He has a record of 11-8-3-1 so far in his rookie season.

The Knights are set to play host to Sarnia Friday night, then visit Windsor Sunday afternoon.