Grateful Flames Defenceman Andersson ‘Lucky To Be Alive’

"I'm not gonna lie, it was traumatic and it was scary," Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson said Saturday, talking about last week's terrifying crash in Detroit for the first time. "Honestly, I'm just lucky to be alive." 

The Flames were coming off a game against the Rangers in New York — a team they battle again on Saturday night in at the Saddledome. It was a physical, up-tempo contest and Andersson was riding a scooter to meet some teammates for dinner before Thursday's game against the Red Wings when he was hit by a vehicle in a crosswalk. If you're looking for details about what happened, there are none. Andersson can't remember the crash. 

"It was a tough couple days there," Andersson said. "Especially because I don't really know what happened, still. You're on your way to one place and you wake up in an ambulance. So it was obviously scary and traumatic and all that kind of stuff."

Andersson was cleared on Wednesday and played his first game in a week against the Detroit Red Wings. The post-game assessment was that he started a bit sluggish and got better along the way. The trepidation was natural, but despite the Rangers being a physical group — see last week's fight-filled game in New York as proof — Andersson is ready for whatever comes his way. 

"Last game, you think about all the stuff that's happened, I was probably a little too cautious in some situations and that kind of stuff. But I feel better and better each day that goes by," Andersson said. "When you get the first game out of the way, you know you can handle it, and you know you're fine."

For that, he's grateful. He passed on his thanks to the people in Detroit who quickly came to his aid and took care of him at the hospital. 

"I'm obviously thankful for the Detroit hospital. They did a really good job," Andersson said. "I was in an MRI machine before I could even say what my name was. I'm grateful for everyone who works at the Detroit hospital. 

"But as I said, it was a little traumatic for me, my wife, my family and everyone."