Hockey players are known for being tough, but Columbus Blue Jackets left wing James van Riemsdyk is taking things to the next level. Days after suffering a gruesome injury that knocked out four teeth and required additional surgery, van Riemsdyk will still be taking the ice for Columbus’ matchup against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Van Riemsdyk is listed as part of the Blue Jackets’ second line for Sunday. He was spotted during warmups with a cage on his helmet, which covered his mouth and chin completely.
Van Riemsdyk suffered the injury on Friday during the Blue Jackets’ overtime win over the Utah Hockey Club. The veteran winger was hit with a high stick from Utah’s Ian Cole in the first period; Utah was able to kill the four-minute penalty.
Van Riemsdyk left the ice, with the team removing the teeth and giving him stitches in order to get him back into the game, per The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. He was crucial in his return, assisting on the game-tying goal in the third period to help Columbus with the comeback.
Van Riemsdyk and Cole have known each other for a long time, and their parents are friends. Van Riemsdyk told reporters on Sunday that Cole’s mother has been checking in — “She feels bad,” he said.
But after the game, things got really gross: Van Riemsdyk received a post-game X-ray that revealed that a piece of his tooth was stuck in his stitched-up lip. As a result, a stitch was taken out so the tooth could be removed, and then the lip was stitched back up.
A post-game X-ray revealed a tooth was still lodged in his bottom lip after it was stitched. So a stitch was removed, the tooth was dislodged and he stitched again.
Then came a bone graft and root canals. He’s eating through a straw.
Will play tonight vs. #TexasHockey #CBJ
2/2— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 2, 2025
Van Riemsdyk received more than 30 stitches, plus a bone graft and root canals, to repair the injury, per Aaron Portzline, and is currently eating through a straw. When asked if he was on medication to deal with the pain, the left wing said that he was only taking Advil.
Van Riemsdyk has 10 goals and 12 assists with the Blue Jackets, playing in 45 games this season. Columbus is on a three-game win streak, and will try to continue that streak against Dallas on Sunday.
#Blue #Jackets #James #van #Riemsdyk #play #Sunday #gruesome #injury #knocked #teeth
