GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Michigan State University hockey player has been sued by a former opponent for injuries she suffered on the ice.
Kathleen Droba, a former player with Adrian College’s women’s hockey team, filed the lawsuit in September against former MSU defender Sydney Crawford. It was moved to federal court earlier this month.
Droba claims an illegal hit from Crawford during a game on Feb. 19, 2023, has caused her serious long-term issues.
According to the lawsuit, Droba was positioned near the Spartans’ net when Crawford checked her to the ice.
“(Crawford) continued to skate towards (Droba) and, without warning, recklessly and/or carelessly and violently struck (Droba) with the force of her entire body, causing (Droba) to strike the surface of the ice with great force and lose consciousness,” the lawsuit reads.
The hit also allegedly caused compression fractures in two of Droba’s vertebrae.
Bodychecking is not allowed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. According to a box score from the MSU team website, Crawford was assessed a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.
Dobra’s lawyers argue the hit went above and beyond any incidental action in a physical game.
“The bodycheck by (Crawford) was not attributable to participation in the ongoing athletic contest, as there was no play on the puck, and such action is clearly and expressly outside of the rules of play,” the lawsuit reads.
Nearly two years later, Droba claims she still experiences persistent headaches, vertigo, bowel/bladder control issues and an overall decreased quality of life, all of which could lead to potential loss of income.
Neither Michigan State University nor the MSU team are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Droba, who now lives in Pennsylvania, has asked for $25,000 and any additional costs and interest that the court may deem appropriate.
