Preds GM Poile taken to Minnesota hospital after being hit by puck
Nashville general manager David Poile, who is also the GM of the U.S. Olympic hockey team, was hit in the head by an errant puck during the Predators' Thursday skate at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
According to the Predators, Poile will remain in the hospital overnight for "observation and evaluation."
According to Twitter posts by Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Poile was treated by paramedics and members of the Wild's training staff in the Predators' locker room.
Poile was hit while standing in the tunnel leading from the visiting locker room to the bench. It's common for visiting coaches, media, general managers and even fans to attend game-day skates. An on-ice practice pass apparently deflected off a stick blade and subsequently struck Poile on the head.
Poile, who turns 64 next Friday, is the third-longest tenured general manager in NHL history. He has spent 31 consecutive years at the helm of a league franchise -- 15 with Washington and the past 16 years with the Predators.
Poile is the only general manager in Nashville history.
