A club player who lost six teeth in an horrific injury playing a top-of-the-table clash in the Midlands Premier Division has been forced to start a fundraising page after facing a dental bill of up to £10,000.
Playing for Stourport HC, Simon Claris’ injury occurred during a clash against Khalsa Leamington. During a corner, Claris was on the line and with one of Khalsa’s ex-Pakistan internationals flicking, he was struck straight in the mouth. Stourport were 3-2 up at the time (the eventual final score) after they missed the resulting penalty flick.
He told The Hockey Paper: “The pain was unimaginable to start with, spreading all through my head before it concentrated on my mouth area. When I was able to open my eyes and realise where I had been hit, I was streaming with blood from my bottom lip which was split open and the gums where the teeth had been completely shattered.”
With a large crowd in attendance, Claris’ best friend took him to hospital. “My parents were there but my Dad is the manager so I told him to stay with the team to ensure we won the game and my Mum would’ve fainted as soon as she saw me!” said Claris.
“I was taken to the closest hospital to start with before being told that I need to go to a larger hospital where they have a specialist facial department. I was seen initially as my lips had started to swell and the pain was immense all over my mouth.
“I then saw the specialist who informed me that I had completely shattered and sheared my teeth at the gum line. The initial feeling when she told me that I would be losing at least five teeth was one of dread (of course mixed with pain). I wasn’t sure what to think about how I would look and the longer lasting damage.”
After fragmented pieces of teeth were removed and his gum and lip stitched back together, he was allowed to leave. He has spent the last fortnight seeing different dentists to weigh up his options, by having facial scans and the nerves removed from the bottom teeth as they were dead.
Stourport has club insurance to help but the cost of the procedures required will be more than it can claim for, hence Claris’ decision to set up a GoFundMe “to try and fill the gap”. So far he has raised close to £2,000, with dental quotes ranging from £6-10,000.
He said of the process: “The main work that will need to be completed is on the top half of my teeth as they will need to completely clear this out and I will be fitted with a denture plate initially – which will then become implants in the top teeth when the gums are finally settled.”
“I don’t know if I will be able to return to the pitch competitively this season, as much as I want to,” he added.
“Hockey is a massive part of my life, being a release from work where I am a project manager at a multinational IT company. I was able to return to work however, with the amount of virtual meetings we have now, it has been tricky.”
Claris has been playing for nearly 20 years after starting as a five-year-old. He moved back to Stourport last season, having played at Beeston and then Repton while at university. He spent the winter period guesting for Repton in the Premier Division Indoor and has represented England at junior level.
On the issue of safety in hockey, Claris is aware of the obvious dangers given the current speed of the game in the modern era, but like most amateur players invested in the game on a weekly basis has to adapt with the current laws in place.
“Safety in hockey is a tough balance to gauge due to it being such a fast-paced sport and players don’t want to have bulky protective equipment,” he added.
“Funnily enough, I am a drag flicker so I understand the danger of standing on the post for short corners. I chose not to wear a mask as I believe that they impair my vision and I want to give myself every opportunity to pick the ball on the line.
“I was of course wearing a gum shield but it could not do much to prevent the velocity of the ball that was flicked. I think I am seeing more injuries in hockey due to the ever growing pace of the game but unfortunately, in my opinion, that is something that players have to adapt to.”
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That poor bloke, absolutely horrific. I really hope his fundraising and recovery go well
As a keeper I find it incredible that players continue to face short corners without a mask. From long experience, I can say you do not see the ones that hit you in the face – the difference is that I have a steel grille protecting me
My opinion is that the short corner rule should be updated so that the backboard rule applies to all first shots and deflections of first shots
Such a terrible injury.
I would add, you should not be on the line without a performance face shield with grill.
Our clubs it is mandatory and the club provides the masks. No mask, no business being there.
Totally agree with backboard call for any first shot on goal including deflections. The game is just getting boring watching drag flickers win games rather than proper hockey.
2 points for field goals 1 point for drag flick goals. Maybe.
I am also astonished that has he been wearing a face mask this could have been avoided!
We have a son who is playing in the Irish U18s and in the EYL1 league in Ireland. He has broken his jaw twice this year as a 17/18 year old. I disagree that this is something players just have to adapt to. The sticks have the ability to hit the ball so much harder, more of the game can now be played in the air, the pitches are faster and overall the game is not anywhere near as safe as it was 10/15/20 years ago. Our son was one of 4 facial surgeries in Belfast the weekend he got hit due to hockey. Broken jaws, eye sockets, cheeks are becoming commonplace. Something more needs to be done.
We have a son who is playing in the Irish U18s and in the EYL1 league in Ireland. He has broken his jaw twice this year as a 17/18 year old. I disagree that this is something players just have to adapt to. The sticks have the ability to hit the ball so much harder, more of the game can now be played in the air, the pitches are faster and overall the game is not anywhere near as safe as it was 10/15/20 years ago. Our son was one of 4 facial surgeries in Belfast the weekend he got hit due to hockey. Broken jaws, eye sockets, cheeks are becoming commonplace. Something more needs to be done and not just at short corners.
We played a game recently, in the lowest division of our league. Our oppo had a drag flicker who had played a high standard in the past. We are essentially a Masters side, over-50s in the main and we have a novice goalkeeper who started playing this season.
We lost the game 7-0, I think with three of the goals being drags.
I don’t think many teams much higher up the pyramid would have such a relentless scoring method.
I appreciate skill in the game, but it did seem inappropriate to the level we play at.
Condolences to Simon, I hope he gets things sorted and is on the pitch again soon.