Duck Prospect’s Career Over

A top prospect with the Mighty Ducks who was struck in the face by a puck in a minor league hockey game 10 days ago has permanently lost the vision in his left eye, effectively ending his promising career.

Jordan Smith, 20, remained hospitalized Monday night after undergoing a second surgery on his damaged left eye earlier in the day, said Dr. Jeffrey Moore, a retinal specialist with the Maine Medical Center in Portland.

“This is hopefully the last procedure he will need on his eye and now we are just concentrating on keeping him comfortable and having the best cosmetic outcome as we possibly can,” Moore said in a news conference.

A second-round draft pick in 2004, Smith was injured during the first period of an American Hockey League game between the Ducks’ affiliate, the Portland Pirates, and the Kings’ affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. Smith, a defenseman who was not wearing a visor, had just moved in front of the Pirates’ net when he was struck directly in the eye by a shot that deflected off the stick of teammate Kent Huskins.

Smith, in his first pro season after four years of junior hockey in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, was rushed to Maine Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery. The accident left him with a severely lacerated eye and multiple fractures in the orbital bone.

“It has been an emotional time for our team and all our players,” Coach Kevin Dineen said in a statement. “They all realize how fragile and incredibly special their playing careers are.

“All of our guys admire Jordan for his character and courage and we will all feed off his strong resolve that he has shown this past week.”

At Monday’s news conference, Dineen, a 19-year NHL veteran, called for the mandatory use of visors -- at least within the AHL.

“They wear them as 10-year-olds, they wear them as 17-year-olds,” Dineen said. “They can wear them as 20-year-olds.”

The news about Smith’s sight also hit hard within the parent club. Duck General Manager Brian Burke said Smith knew for certain that he would not regain vision in the eye after seeing another specialist in Boston.

“It is a tragedy for any player to have an injury of that severity -- especially when it’s a 20-year-old kid who is so well liked by everybody in organization,” said Burke, who visited Smith twice last week.

“It’s a terrible day for the organization and most importantly, it’s a terrible day for Jordan Smith.”

The Ducks said they would honor the remainder of the three-year, $600,000 entry-level contract Smith signed in August.

“There is a period of adjustment, losing the sight in his eye and he is going to have to make some adjustments in his life,” said Smith’s father, Marty. “He is strong and he is one tough guy, not just physically but emotionally and mentally and I am sure he will overcome this.”

Former Duck coach Craig Hartsburg, who coaches the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League, said he had been certain his former player would have played for the Ducks.

“Every second of his life he wanted to be a hockey player and he wanted to be in the NHL,” Hartsburg said. “It’s obviously devastating to him and his family and probably the whole city of Ste. Marie.”