Jr. captain Cormier's elbow hospitalizes opponent

Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts was listed in stable condition in hospital after taking an elbow to the head from Rouyn-Noranda centre Patrice Cormier, Canada's captain at the recent world junior hockey championships.

Tam went into convulsions and was taken to hospital after the hit, which occurred at 3:32 of overtime in Quebec's 3-2 shootout victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League said in a statement Monday that it is reviewing the incident and will have no comment until the process is completed.

A Remparts spokesman said Tam suffered brain trauma and some damage to his teeth. He is to undergo a brain scan Monday afternoon and if it shows no deterioration in his condition, he may be cleared to leave the hospital on Tuesday.

The Remparts' website is asking fans to send get-well messages to the 18-year-old defenceman.

Quebec provincial police questioned witnesses at the rink after the game, but no charges have been laid.

Video of the incident shows Cormier coming off the bench and heading towards Tam, who started his rush from behind the goal. Cormier caught him with the elbow near centre ice, dropping him.

Three players and a trainer rushed Tam off the ice on a stretcher.

Cormier is known as a physical player. He hit Sweden's Anton Rodin with a similar elbow to the mouth during an exhibition game ahead of the world juniors last month.

The 19-year-old from Cap-Pele, N.B., was drafted by New Jersey in 2008 and signed a three-year entry level contract with the Devils last summer.

He was traded by the Rimouski Oceanic to Rouyn-Noranda on Jan. 7.