Daniel Frank can't train yet, but he is very optimistic.

With video message: Daniel Frank reports back

For days, ice hockey fans worried about Bolzano's captain Daniel Frank, who was left unconscious on the ice after a check. Now he addresses the SportNews readers with combative words. Two other HCB cracks give cause for concern.

March 14, 2024

Daniel Frank no longer knows what exactly happened a week ago. Just this much: “I remember getting hit on the side – and then there was nothing left,” the national player looks back.

He was in third quarter-final game between Bolzano and Villach Carried unconscious on the ice, he slowly came to again later in the cabin. Since then he has been cared for by a team of doctors, initially in the hospital and then in the HCB environment. Frank had headaches, dizziness and was sensitive to light.

Already the 7th concussion

The 29-year-old knows these feelings, as it is already the seventh (!) concussion in his career. “Of course I've been thinking about it the last few days, the consequential damage is well known,” admits Frank. Head injuries are currently a big issue in ice hockey, but the Merano native never had any doubts. “It sounds brutal, but risk is part of this sport. Nobody around me advised me to stop playing ice hockey.”

“That was really dangerous.” Daniel Frank on the attack by Maxim Golod

Rather, Frank is annoyed by the fact that VSV player Maxim Golod's attack against him was only punished with a two-minute penalty. While he is talking to SportNews Having the scene replayed on his cell phone, he says: “That’s really dangerous. I don't understand why Villach played so dirty. That's actually not their style of play and it didn't necessarily help them in the series. But don’t worry about it.”

Daniel Frank had to be treated on the ice for minutes and only came to in the dressing room. © V. Antonello

In the end, the HCB clearly won the quarter-finals 4-1 and Villach was shelved. The look is now towards the semi-finals, including for Daniel Frank. Although he hasn't put his skates on the ice since his nasty collision, his headaches and dizziness have subsided significantly over the past few days. He optimistically sends the following message to the HCB fans:



Whether Frank actually manages to be there at the start of the semi-finals depends on the doctors' verdict. They will carefully monitor the load control in the coming days and will only give the green light when there is no longer a health risk. Enrico Miglioranzi and Mike Halmo will not accept such a deal either. They are the two other victims of the quarter-final series and problem children in the HCB hospital.

Halmo is threatened with a long break

Enrico Miglioranzi In the second game, VSV striker Robert Sabolic fell unhappily on his bent knee. Since then, the defender has been on crutches. Although the knee has now subsided, use is currently out of the question.

The same applies to Mike Halmo, who went down in a duel on Monday and was then escorted off the ice by support staff. The already ailing offensive star will undergo more detailed examinations this week - just like Miglioranzi. It is completely unclear whether the two Bolzano players will still be available this season. In any case, it is unlikely that they will play in the semi-final opener next Tuesday away from Klagenfurt or Salzburg.