River Rats bus crashes after game

The bus carrying the Albany River Rats was involved in an accident early Thursday morning that injured a few of the players and employees, although none appear to be life-threatening.

The Hurricanes confirmed today that the accident occurred on the Massachusetts Turnpike just before 3:30 a.m. Players and staff members were taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass., for treatment, and a majority are now returning to Albany.

11 a.m. UPDATE — "The injuries vary," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "There are cuts, bruises, shoulders, concussions, a fractured neck.

"It's a very unfortunate accident but it could have been worse."

Rutherford said the names of the injured would be released later today after their families had been notified. He said head coach Jeff Daniels was not among those with serious injuries.

"He's all right but is dealing with the shock," Rutherford said. "There's not a better person to have in control. They're in good hands with Jeff."

Rutherford said the River Rats were using a replacement bus and driver for the trip after their team bus had a mechanical problem.

Four players and one staff member remain at the hospital being treated for serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries.

No names have been released. One Albany player, defenseman Tim Conboy, has been recalled by the Hurricanes and was not on the bus.

"We're thankful no one was seriously injured," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today. "It could have been far more disastrous."

Canes assistant coach Tom Rowe, who coached the River Rats last season, said he talked to Daniels and was told told that a couple of 18-wheel trucks just missed the nose of the bus — which was still on the highway — after the accident.

"That's a dangerous stretch of highway and the weather can change on you in a hurry," Rowe said. "It's a scary thing, for sure, to be rolling down the highway late at night and have something like that happen.

"We had an accident a few years ago after a game in Quebec. We were in an ice storm and the bus went sliding down the highway. No one was hurt, thankfully."

The River Rats understandably may postpone their next scheduled game, set for Friday.

More details to follow.