Army West Point hockey player junior Eric Huss returned to West Point following a near-fatal injury during a game on Thursday, January 5 which was averted by the quick efforts by West Point Senior Associate Athletic Trainer Rachel Leahy of Newburgh.

On Thursday, January 5, the Army West Point Men’s Hockey Team was facing off against Sacred Heart University. It was reported that during the second period of the contest, Huss was struck in the neck by a skate and received a severe laceration. As play ceased, Leahy rushed into action to save Huss and recalled what she was feeling during those pivotal moments.

“I jumped over the boards, there was certainly a moment of shock, where I realized kind of what it was I was about to be handling, and how severe the injury was,” said Leahy. “It was just about the plan, and it was just making sure that we were taking care of our guy.”

During those critical moments on the ice, Leahy shared that she was able to keep Huss calm and collected while applying the needed pressure to control the bleeding on his neck. Huss was transported to a nearby hospital and received surgery to repair the laceration to his neck. Speaking on game preparation, Leahy shared that she met with Sacred Heart Assistant Athletic Trainer Benjamin St. Martin prior to the game and both would go over various protocols and locations of where medical staff would be located. Scenarios involving these types of situations are practiced both in various simulations and mentally, according to Leahy.

Now with Huss home and recovering, Leahy shared she was grateful to the additional staff and personnel that assisted in preventing an even more serious situation. “I feel very good with what we did as a medical team to get him to further care as fast as possible. I feel even better now, knowing that he’s doing very well and is on his road to recovery,” said Leahy. “I really do have to thank some of the other people that were involved because they were just so critical.”

Leahy joined the West Point staff in the summer of 2019 and worked with the West Point volleyball, softball teams and rugby teams prior to joining the hockey team, which she has been a part of the last two seasons. She also worked as an athletic trainer at the University of Wyoming, where she also obtained her Masters Degree in Health Services Administration, and worked as a trainer and achieved her bachelors degree at Quinnipiac University.

Following this event, Leahy shared that she has received messages from other athletic trainers across the country and is thankful for all of the support for her efforts and for Huss’ recovery. “I think I really just wanted to take this time, and highlight the athletic trainers across this country who are working diligently to take care of our athletes. You know, 2023 has been a big start for athletic trainers, especially with the Buffalo Bills situation, and Damar [Hamlin],” said Leahy.
Leahy referenced the event that took place on January 2, when the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals were playing a regular season game and Bills safety Damar Hamlin went down during the game and into cardiac arrest. It was reported that Hamlin’s heartbeat had been restored on the field and he was transported to the University of Cincinnati’s Medical Center for further treatment. He has since returned to Buffalo for additional treatment.

“There’s been such a highlight on our position right now. And I think it’s miraculous, and most athletic trainers will probably tell you that we don’t want that type of recognition, we’re totally fine operating in the background, and just making sure that our athletes are okay. But, you know, this profession is an amazing one,” said Leahy. “To all the athletic trainers out there that have taken the time to get educated and train and practice their EAPs and run through their protocols, it’s paying off, and highlights them for taking care of these wonderful athletes.”