The last thing the Maple Leafs wanted to see was their No. 1 prospect injured at his first scrimmage game.
But Ben Danford, the fine defenceman with the Oshawa Generals, was in a heap at the Ford Performance Centre on Thursday, knocked head-first close to the boards by WHLer Marshall Finnie after Danford had pinched in to help on offence.
After being down for a few moments on his knees and once a couple of his Team White teammates had come into a scrum to give the Blues’ Finnie a couple of gloved fists, Danford was checked for a cut and head trauma on the bench.
He eventually put his helmet back on and skated to the dressing room.
“He’s being evaluated,” said John Gruden, the Marlies coach running Toronto’s rookie camp this week. “I didn’t see the hit because it was in the far corner, but the guy who unfortunately hit him just said he felt bad. Hopefully he’s OK and that’s the bottom line.”
It’s always hard to contain intensity as a younger player in a game after days of summer workouts and two practice sessions here. There had been a few good, clean hits prior to the incident.
“You want to make sure they’re playing hard,” Gruden said. “There’s a feeling out. You want to try and create an identity as a team, but there’s a fine line. We want to play hard, but disciplined.”
The Leafs play the Montreal Canadiens rookies on Saturday and Sunday at the Bell Centre.
The 6-foot-1 Danford had one goal and 32 assists for the Gens last year and 10 points in 21 playoff games as they went to the OHL final. He was chosen 31st overall by the Leafs in June and partnered on defence at this week’s camp with another draft pick, WHLer Noah Chadwick.
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