Month-old baby hit by puck following open practice released from hospital

MONTREAL – A baby struck in the head by a puck star defenceman P.K. Subban tossed into the stands following the Montreal Canadiens annual open practice was released from hospital Monday.

The one-month-old girl’s mother, Valerie Meloche, said on Facebook her daughter suffered a concussion when hit by the puck Sunday. Canadiens players tossed them into the crowd following the practice.

“Unfortunately, one of the fans who received a puck from P.K. Subban was just a month old and she stopped it with her head,” Meloche wrote.

Baby Beatrice was taken to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and kept overnight.

A team representative met with the family and invited Meloche, her husband and their four children to watch a future game at the Bell Centre in a private suite.

A spokesman said Subban also wanted to meet the family.

“Everyone, starting with (owner) Geoff Molson, was really touched by the story,” spokesman Donald Beauchamp said.

The annual practice, which is free of charge, draws a full house of mainly children and parents. When it’s over, players flip pucks into the seats for the kids.

After games, any Canadien named as first star also tosses three pucks into the crowd.

Beauchamp said that practice is now under review.