SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Montréal Canadiens hockey player Emil Heineman will be sidelined for several weeks after he was struck by a car in Salt Lake City.
The team officially announced the injury on Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, saying Heineman was struck as a pedestrian the day before.
Salt Lake City Police Detective Michael Ruff confirmed with ABC4.com that the crash happened around 3 p.m. near 200 East and 500 South. Upon arrival at the scene, officers reportedly could not find the person who made the report and the pedestrian who was struck.
It was not until later in the evening, officers received information from a nearby business, which reportedly had information associated with the crash. It was then officers learned the pedestrian who was struck by the car was a Canadiens Montréal player.
The team initially said Heineman did not show any signs of serious injury and was being attended to by team doctors. However, the team later confirmed Heineman suffered an "upper-body" injury and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden confirmed the agency has taken over the investigation into the crash but could not confirm any further details.
Heineman and the Montréal Canadiens were scheduled to play the Utah Hockey Club at the Delta Center on Tuesday night. The Quebec-based hockey team will go on to play without their 23-year-old winger who has scored 10 goals and made seven assists over 41 games played.