OTTAWA – An ugly crash into the boards has knocked Ottawa Senators defenceman and Canmore’s Jacob Bernard-Docker out of the lineup.
Per the NHL’s media site, the Sens have placed the 24-year-old blueliner on the injured reserve after a brutal moment during practice on Jan. 6.
Bernard-Docker and forward Zack Ostapchuk were charging toward a puck behind the net when it appeared the defenceman lost his footing and slammed into the corner.
Here’s a clip of the Jacob Bernard-Docker injury. This looks like a long term injury no doubt, but have to wait for official word. Looks like his leg snaps when colliding into the boards. Hope JBD is okay. Absolutely brutal.
— SENS TALK (@senstalk_) January 6, 2025
pic.twitter.com/p40tiXsf5Q
In visible pain and unable to put weight on his left leg, Bernard-Docker was helped off the ice.
It’s expected the 2018 first round pick will be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Senators captain, Brady Tkachuk, who was drafted the same year as JBD, was one of the players quick to assist his injured teammate to the dressing room.
“It sucks, you never want that to happen,” Tkachuk said to the media after the injury. “I think him and [Ostapchuk] are both trying to do the right things, getting on the puck quick and trying to do the drill the right way that kind of goes into a game, so whenever you see something like that, an accident, obviously it’s really hard to see and I’m really hoping it’s not too bad for JBD because he works so hard and he does everything right where I'm really hoping for him that it’s not too bad.”
The Sens recalled defencemen Max Guenette and Nikolas Matinpalo from the team’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.
This season, Bernard-Docker has one goal and four points in 25 games, with a +2 rating.
