Clint Malarchuk (May 1, 1961, Grande Prairie, Alberta) is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played in the NHL between 1981 and 1992. He is probably best known for an injury sustained during one of the most horrific in-game incidents in sports history. Malarchuk played for the Québec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres, and Washington Capitals throughout his career. He was a very competent but not great goalie, with a career record of 141 wins, 130 losses, 45 ties, and 12 shutouts, and a 0.885 save percentage.
The notable incident occurred during a game on March 22, 1989 between the visiting St. Louis Blues and Malarchuk's Buffalo Sabres. Steve Tuttle of the Blues and Uwe Krupp of the Sabres collided at the mouth of the goal, and Tuttle's skate caught Malarchuk on the throat, slicing open his outer jugular vein. With pools of blood collecting on the ice, Malarchuk somehow left the ice under his own power with the assistance of his team's trainer, Jim Pizzatelli. Meanwhile, many spectators were physically sickened by the sight, and local television cameras covering the game instantly cut away from the sight of Malarchuck.
Malarchuk spent only one night in the hospital, and was back on the ice with his team two weeks later. However, his performance declined over the next few years, to the point that Malarchuk left the NHL. He battled obsessive-compulsive disorder (attributed to his injury) for a time, but he eventually returned to hockey, in the International Hockey League. After retiring as a player, Malarchuk continued his hockey career as a coach.
After Malarchuk's injury, the NHL instituted a policy requiring all goalies to wear neck protection.
Clint Malarchuk was a goaltending coach for the Florida Panthers during the season 2002-2003.
