Swiss defenceman Phil Baltisberger taken off ice on stretcher at world juniors

TORONTO – Swiss defenceman Phil Baltisberger was taken off the ice on a stretcher Sunday after receiving a high hit in a game against Russia at the world junior hockey championship.

Swiss coach John Fust said after the game there was no immediate word on the Guelph Storm player other than he was moving. He was taken to hospital to be checked.

But Swiss captain Yannick Rathgeb offered a more positive update.

“He can feel his legs, he’s all right,” said Rathgeb. “He can feel everything. He just didn’t have any power to get up and his neck really hurt.”

The Ontario Hockey League player was floored by an Anatoli Golyshev check that caught him unaware midway through the second period. Baltisberger lay on the ice before he was strapped on the stretcher and taken off the ice after a lengthy delay.

Golyshev was given a five-minute major interference penalty which carries an automatic game misconduct.

Fust said there was confusion over the call, with no penalty given at first. Russian coach Valeri Bragin disputed the call, saying the hit was to the shoulder not the head.

The Russians were leading 3-0 at the time and went on to win 7-0.

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced through Twitter that the incident will be reviewed by its disciplinary panel.