Melville Millionaires goaltender has concussion, out indefinitely following blow to head

The Melville Millionaires have provided an update on injured goaltender Berk Berkeliev.

Berkeliev spent the night in hospital Saturday following a collision with Yorkton Terriers forward Greg Mulhall. Mulhall was suspended 25 games, and is eligible to return to the lineup on Nov. 22.

25 game suspension!! https://t.co/ZKltni35li

— The Green Zone (@GreenZoneSK) September 16, 2019

Melville head coach and general manager Kyle Adams said Berkeliev is “out indefinitely” with a concussion, he needed 13 to 15 stitches, and he lost “a few” teeth in the collision.

Adams said there’s no time frame yet on Berkeliev’s return to the lineup, if he returns at all.

“He went and got a (CT scan) yesterday to see if there’s any swelling or anything like that in his brain,” Adams said. “He sounds OK, (but) obviously he’s still nursing the concussion. Hopefully, he makes a speedy recovery.”

Adams said the 228 minutes in penalties in the game came after the Mulhall hit. Adams believes the officials did well in controlling the situation, but noted this is something that they didn’t see brewing.

“It’s something that we don’t want to see in our game,” Adams said. “Those type of plays have to be removed.”

Melville and Yorkton will have a rematch Oct. 5 in Yorkton. Adams was candid in saying the Millionaires are not going to look for revenge.

“We’re going to try and get two points that game. We’re not going to do anything out of the ordinary,” Adams said. “Hockey’s a game where there’s contact (and) heated conversations. We’re just trying to (get the win).”

Adams said the Mils will get the results from Berkeliev’s CT scan in the next couple days, and hope to develop a timeline for his recovery. After that, Adams said, it’s “up to how his body reacts to everything that happened.”