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Everett Today
By the People, for the People
Kelowna Rockets Forward Suffers Scary Injury in Playoff Game
Ty Halaburda hospitalized after hard hit, team says he will miss remainder of season
Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:06am
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A fractured, cubist depiction of the hard hit that sent Kelowna Rockets forward Ty Halaburda crashing to the ice, resulting in a season-ending head injury.Everett TodayKelowna Rockets forward Ty Halaburda was hospitalized after a scary incident in the third period of Saturday's playoff game against the Everett Silvertips. Halaburda was hit hard by Silvertips forward Jaxsin Vaughan and crashed face-first to the ice, requiring medical attention and being stretchered off the ice. The Rockets say Halaburda will travel home to Victoria and is expected to miss the rest of the season as he recovers from a head injury.
Why it matters
Halaburda's injury is a concerning incident in the playoffs, highlighting the risks and dangers that players face in high-intensity hockey games. The Rockets will have to adjust without their key forward as they try to mount a comeback in the series against the Silvertips.
The details
Midway through the third period, Halaburda was skating near the Everett blue line when he was caught with a hip check from Vaughan. The hit sent Halaburda crashing to the ice, where he lay for several minutes before being attended to by training staff from both teams and then stretchered off the ice. The Rockets say Halaburda will travel home to Victoria with his family and is expected to miss the remainder of the season as he recovers from the head injury.
- Incident occurred in the third period of Saturday's playoff game.
- Halaburda will travel home to Victoria on Sunday.
- Halaburda is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The players
Ty Halaburda
A 20-year-old forward for the Kelowna Rockets who was injured in Saturday's playoff game against the Everett Silvertips.
Jaxsin Vaughan
A forward for the Everett Silvertips who delivered the hit that injured Halaburda.
Brandon McMillan
An assistant coach for the Kelowna Rockets who provided an update on Halaburda's condition after the game.
What they’re saying
“He will be out for the remainder of the season as he recovers from a head injury.”
— Kelowna Rockets
“Halaburda was awake and moving.”
— Brandon McMillan, Kelowna Rockets Assistant Coach
What’s next
The Kelowna Rockets will continue their playoff series against the Everett Silvertips without Halaburda, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season as he recovers from his head injury.
The takeaway
Halaburda's scary injury is a sobering reminder of the physical toll that playoff hockey can take on players. The Rockets will have to find a way to overcome this setback and continue their postseason run without one of their key forwards.
