HEY Islander fans Neck injury ends Colley's NHL career

[jkgrandchamp]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Islanders forward Kevin Colley will end his hockey career after breaking his neck in a headfirst crash into the boards last month.

Colley, who played only 16 games in his first NHL season, told teammates at practice Friday that his career was over. He broke the fifth cervical vertebrae, but suffered no paralysis, while attempting a check on Washington's Jamie Heward on Jan. 31.

After two surgeries, the 27-year-old Colley said he feels "blessed that I am able to walk."

Islanders general manager Mike Milbury praised Colley, who had no points and 52 penalty minutes this season.

"When you consider that Kevin gave everything he had every time he stepped on the ice, it's especially sad," Milbury said. "The good news is that Kevin is going to lead a healthy and productive life."

Colley played for several minor league teams, including Hartford and Bridgeport in the AHL, before signing with the Islanders in 2004.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


You hate to see any player retire this way well may he have a great post NHL life and atleast he can walk !

[FirstTimeCaller]

This is the kind of guy that gave his life for the game...whether he was an Islander or played for any other team... he gave his life/body for the game... I have the ultimate respect for him. I wish him all the best... given his father's NHL history it's sadly ironic that it ended this way. He'll be an Islander for life.

[ShadeTree#55]

Best of luck it was nasty, and mishandled really if you watched if live.

[kinghenry89]

I really feel bad for Colley. On an Islanders team where hardly anybody ever works hard and hustles at all (even supposed "sparkplug" Jason Blake now takes frequent nights off), Kevin Colley lost his career for his gritty play.

Look at Colley's career before making the Isles:

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996-97 Oshawa Generals OHL 64 19 17 36 46 16 2 4 6 25
1997-98 Oshawa Generals OHL 57 27 41 68 107 7 1 5 6 14
1998-99 Oshawa Generals OHL 63 39 62 101 68 14 7 13 20 32
1999-00 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 5 0 0 0 2 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 5 2 1 3 10 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Dayton Bombers ECHL 24 8 6 14 111 2 1 0 1 4
2000-01 Pensacola Ice Pilots ECHL 23 6 11 17 44 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 New-Orleans Brass ECHL 23 11 8 19 27 8 1 1 2 12
2001-02 Atlantic-City Boardwalk Bullie ECHL 41 23 30 53 90 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Providence Bruins AHL 4 0 1 1 27 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Rochester Americans AHL 25 3 4 7 70 2 0 1 1 0
2002-03 Atlantic-City Boardwalk Bullie ECHL 50 33 38 71 190 17 13 7 20 27
2002-03 Syracuse Crunch AHL 16 2 3 5 6 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Worcester IceCats AHL 6 1 1 2 27 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 78 12 19 31 122 3 1 0 1 12
2004-05 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 59 11 13 24 212 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Bridgeport Sound Tigers* AHL 21 5 5 10 60
2005-06 New-York Islanders* NHL 16 0 0 0 52


That's 13 teams in 9 years. It really isn't fair that his career is over 16 games after finally making the NHL. Hopefully he can find something meaningful to do with his life. Best of wishes.

[FirstTimeCaller]

Bangin on Jason Blake is dumb.... I don't like the guy at all... I've met him and he's an ass. However, there's no way you can question his dedication though...

[kinghenry89]

Bangin on Jason Blake is dumb.... I don't like the guy at all... I've met him and he's an ass. However, there's no way you can question his dedication though...

I love Blake's play, he usually gives 150% and is able (and willing) to go up against opponents twice his size. But it's undeniable that even his effort has begun to wane in light of the Isles struggles and the total lack of dedication from his teammates.

Don't get me wrong--IMO Blake is the lesser of about 25 evils.

[ShadeTree#55]

Blake could be a great 3rd or 4th liner on a championship type team. The guy has jets. He was one of the best USA players in the 3rd Period.

[kinghenry89]

Blake could be a great 3rd or 4th liner on a championship type team. The guy has jets. He was one of the best USA players in the 3rd Period.
I think that Blake could be a second liner on a championship team if he drops his Nascar routine (the one where he circles the offensive zone for 20 minutes without passing only to turn it over for a breakaway on DiPietro.)

His skill is questionable but his results are undeniable.

[ShadeTree#55]

His skill is as a PK and really fast dude.

[nyscene911]

Jason Blake is a fucking line killer. Any line he is put on automatically goes down the shitter due to his selfish play.

On the subject of Colley though, I feel terrible for him. Fought long and hard to make it to the big show, and when he finally does he is struck down a month later. He was awesome, a tough dude--skated off the ice after the hit. I really hope he gets the money is he owed still, and that he can find something really well to do(alot of guys seem to do real-estate). He'll always have my respect for the way he played the game.

[FirstTimeCaller]

I love Blake's play, he usually gives 150% and is able (and willing) to go up against opponents twice his size. But it's undeniable that even his effort has begun to wane in light of the Isles struggles and the total lack of dedication from his teammates.

Don't get me wrong--IMO Blake is the lesser of about 25 evils.



You said it. On a 24 man roster he's our 25th problem.

[kinghenry89]

Jason Blake is a fucking line killer. Any line he is put on automatically goes down the shitter due to his selfish play.

That's not true IMO. This season alone Blake has managed to bring both Mike York and Trent Hunter back from the dead once they were moved to his line.

[ShadeTree#55]

Jason Blake is a fucking line killer. Any line he is put on automatically goes down the shitter due to his selfish play.

Ca$hin is a line killer.

[kinghenry89]

Ca$hin is a line killer.

I don't think that's true either. Yashin's found a lot of success with crappy linemates (Kip Miller and Randy Robitaille come to mind.)

Now Oleg Kvasha, that's a line killer for you.

[ShadeTree#55]

Lots of success? Earning his top 2 in the NHL pay?

[FirstTimeCaller]

It's time the target focuses on Yashin. I don't believe he's a line killer, that's just stupid, but he is totally overpaid.

[kinghenry89]

Lots of success? Earning his top 2 in the NHL pay?
Not even close to earning his contract. He is probably the most overpaid player in professional sports (excluding some left handed relievers), let alone the NHL.

But don't confuse overpaid with bad. Even in the worst year of Yashin's career he led the Islanders in points.

[nyscene911]

Ca$hin is a line killer.
please. Look at how well Yashin played in the Olympics. Great, because he had actual NHL caliber scorers alongside him.

What the hell do you expect him to do playing with Aaron Asham and Oleg Kvasha(aka the biggest waste of talent in the NHL)? And then Satan bitches that he doesn't like playing with Yashin after they showed great chemistry early this year?

Blake on the other hand--Fourth line energy guy only who should see PP time since he can do that well. He should never see the top two lines of any time. Nor should he have been on Team USA, imo.

[ShadeTree#55]

Yashin not carrying a team is one of the better centers, he is a good 2 way center that can score and is a pretty big dude. As a go to guy he is not so hot. He is never gonna be a 100+ Point guy, which is what his contract is worth.

The guy saw a once and a lifeime deal and got it. The Isles have to step up and buy him out.

[FirstTimeCaller]

Not even close to earning his contract. He is probably the most overpaid player in professional sports (excluding some left handed relievers), let alone the NHL..



That title goes to Giambi.

[nyscene911]

Yashin not carrying a team is one of the better centers, he is a good 2 way center that can score and is a pretty big dude. As a go to guy he is not so hot. He is never gonna be a 100+ Point guy, which is what his contract is worth.

The guy saw a once and a lifeime deal and got it. The Isles have to step up and buy him out.
Buying him out won't help. Figure who's going to be available to pick up his production. I'd rather see the Islanders keep Yashin and try to get some nice young guys for Parrish/Blake this trade deadline. Parrish is gone after this year anyway probably, so I'd like to see what we can get for him as a hired gun.
He's (Yashin) overpaid, but is that really any of our business? We don't right his checks. And I can't really complain about his signing because he did help turn the Islanders franchise around. I like to complain about giving up Spezza and Chara for Yash as much as anyone, but does anyone think that had the Isles not made the Peca/Yash trades they would've improved the way they did? They'd still be a 50ppy team with young gusy with tons of potential who Dilburry would continue to grow impatient with and trade away for crap.

[ShadeTree#55]

Oh yeah.

Or Chad :(

[kinghenry89]

And I can't really complain about his signing because he did help turn the Islanders franchise around. I like to complain about giving up Spezza and Chara for Yash as much as anyone, but does anyone think that had the Isles not made the Peca/Yash trades they would've improved the way they did? They'd still be a 50ppy team with young gusy with tons of potential who Dilburry would continue to grow impatient with and trade away for crap.

Much less than not being a playoff team, they would probably be in Portland Oregon by now. Milbury is far from a great GM but the Yashin and Peca moves saved the Islanders franchise.

[nyscene911]

Oh yeah.

Or Chad :(

Does Allen Houston count since he's still technically getting paid, I believe?

[ShadeTree#55]

Buying him out won't help. Figure who's going to be available to pick up his production. I'd rather see the Islanders keep Yashin and try to get some nice young guys for Parrish/Blake this trade deadline. Parrish is gone after this year anyway probably, so I'd like to see what we can get for him as a hired gun.
He's (Yashin) overpaid, but is that really any of our business? We don't right his checks. And I can't really complain about his signing because he did help turn the Islanders franchise around. I like to complain about giving up Spezza and Chara for Yash as much as anyone, but does anyone think that had the Isles not made the Peca/Yash trades they would've improved the way they did? They'd still be a 50ppy team with young gusy with tons of potential who Dilburry would continue to grow impatient with and trade away for crap.
As far as points or just scoring goes, I bet Nilsson would match a good portion of it.

[kinghenry89]

By the way, this is a nice time to plug To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily. are a lot of similarly great hockey discussions going on at the Islanders Board there.

As for buying out Yashin, it doesn't make sense. Wang doesn't have the money to pay Yashin's contract and sign another first line center. We are stuck with the reality of building around him going into the future.

Our putrid defense should be more of a concern than Yashin's contract. At least we can do something about that.

[nyscene911]

By the way, this is a nice time to plug To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily. are a lot of similarly great hockey discussions going on at the Islanders Board there.

As for buying out Yashin, it doesn't make sense. Wang doesn't have the money to pay Yashin's contract and sign another first line center. We are stuck with the reality of building around him going into the future.

Our putrid defense should be more of a concern than Yashin's contract. At least we can do something about that.

SIGN KENNY JONSSON! anything he wants!

[kinghenry89]

SIGN KENNY JONSSON! anything he wants!
Hopefully we can get Willie Mitchell, Ruslan Salei or both this offseason. While everybody is out trying to sign Zdeno Chara and Wade Redden to $8 million dollar contracts the Islanders might just be able to sneak in and grab one of these guys.

[ShadeTree#55]

Wang doesn't have the money to pay Yashin's contract and sign another first line center.
Yes he does. A "first" line center is bullshit. You can replace his production. The amount of years and money Yashin is due will kill you.

[FirstTimeCaller]

By the way, this is a nice time to plug To view links in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. Your post count is 0 momentarily. are a lot of similarly great hockey discussions going on at the Islanders Board there.

As for buying out Yashin, it doesn't make sense. Wang doesn't have the money to pay Yashin's contract and sign another first line center. We are stuck with the reality of building around him going into the future.

Our putrid defense should be more of a concern than Yashin's contract. At least we can do something about that.


screw that place... mania is the best board going by a long shot.