Ritchlin would not return to the game, but the injury was not deemed serious. However, the pain in his leg kept getting worse as the night went on. It felt like there was a huge rock in my leg that kept growing. Finally, after serious urging from friends, Ritchlin went to the hospital. He was diagnosed with compartment syndrome which is a soft tissue injury with swelling which compresses blood vessels.
Blood circulation becomes decreased so it has to be relieved immediately through surgery.
There was a time when amputation was a possibility, but that was quickly diminished. Nine surgeries and several skin graphs later, Ritchlin was facing a 16-inch long scar on his leg and a long rehabilitation towards resuming his hockey career. Most people said that I didn't have a chance, which motivated me to get back on the ice. The road to recover was not an easy one. Ritchlin had to regain the 40 pounds he had lost over the course of his six-week stay in the hospital.