Brian McGrattan racked up 609 penalty minutes in 317 NHL games. Most of those penalties were unmemorable. McGrattan's most recent five minutes will be memorable … after he watches the replay.
The 34-year-old former NHL enforcer was knocked unconscious after an AHL fight Tuesday night.
McGrattan currently plays for the San Diego Gulls, an affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. The San Antonio Rampage's Daniel Maggio, a 24-year-old, threw the haymaker that left McGrattan, a Gulls alternate captain, on the ground.
The Gulls gave a positive update on McGrattan's status shortly after the injury:
INJURY UPDATE: Brian McGrattan is conscious, alert and has full movement.
— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) January 20, 2016
Nonetheless, it was a scary moment for McGrattan, and for hockey as a whole.
The Gulls wound up winning the road game, 2-1.