Islanders Prospect Brock Nelson Stretchered off in Frozen Four Semifinal

Update on Brock Nelson, April 9, from the University: "Small fracture of sacrum (broad bone between hip bones, also called tail bone), and inguinal sprain. He was released from hospital yesterday. Likely a 6-8 week recovery."

It was a scary moment during the second NCAA semifinal as Islanders 2010 draft pick Brock Nelson of North Dakota was stretchered off mid-way through the first period after taking a hard check from Michigan forward Luke Glendening. Nelson was said to be moving his extremities -- and the hit did not look in anyway like a neck injury -- but he was taken to a local hospital for examination.

The hit was clean but in a dangerous spot [video here, or below the jump], as Nelson had just released a shot from the low faceoff circle on the left wing side. Glendening had been sprinting back hard on the backcheck to pursue puck carrier Chay Genoway. So when Genoway passed to Nelson -- who had slowed up to make sure he was onside -- Nelson made an inviting target for Glendening, who was skating at full speed.  (It's amazing how many high-impact injuries these days come from the backcheck.)

Fortunately, it wasn't Nelson's head that made contact with the boards but rather his upper back, flush. From replays it looked like his lower back whipped into the boards after the initial impact -- and ESPN2 announcers reported that Nelson told doctors of pain in his lower back.

After lying on the ice for minutes Nelson eventually sat up, but that was as far as he got and it appeared the trainers told him to wait to be placed on the stretcher. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Thoughts and prayers that it's nothing too serious. If you hear any updates leave them in comments. It's been a physical game so far.