The tragedy recalled an event that shook Czechoslovak hockey at the time in 1990, when a guest defender and national team member, Luděk Čajka, crashed his head into the guardrail during the Košice-Zlín match. A few days later, at the hospital, he succumbed to severe spinal cord and cervical vertebra damage at the age of 26.
Now the tragic event has recurred in Germany. Eighteen-year-old Löwen Frankfurt and German Under-20 national team player Niclas Kaus suffered a serious head injury on December 18 during a bad competition in Bad Nauheim when he hit his head uncontrollably in the 25th minute after one of the fights.
We regret to announce the passing of Löwen Frankfurt U20 defenceman Niclas Kaus at the age of 18.
Kaus suffered injuries in an on-ice accident when he collided head first into the boards. pic.twitter.com/3fgxFQxyKI
— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) December 24, 2021
The talented hockey player was immediately taken to the hospital where he was operated on. Despite all the doctors’ efforts, the young man failed to save his life. He died five days later.
“The worst fears have come true. The days of anxiety and fear have ended in the most tragic way possible. Niclas has lost his struggle for life. We are all shocked by this terrible tragedy,” the club said in a statement.
The association and the professional leagues have noted the death of Niclas Kaus with deep dismay. As the Löwen Frankfurt announced in a press release today, the U20 junior player died on December 23rd as a result of a serious sports accident last week. pic.twitter.com/QDy6023ngP
– German Ice Hockey Federation (@deb_teams) December 23, 2021
A huge wave of solidarity and support for the Kaus family subsequently flooded the social networks. “It’s a crazy blow to fate for everyone and especially for Nicklas’ family. We’re thinking of his loved ones,” Kaus’s coach Stefan Krämer searched hard for words.
Clubs all over Germany kept a minute’s silence in honor of the young hockey player’s memory.
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