[UPDATE: The Dallas Stars have announced they have recalled Warren Peters from the Texas Stars. Peters is tied for most goals on the team with 12.]

Per the Dallas Stars, Mike Ribeiro is out 4-6 weeks after being speared in the throat, and has been diagnosed with a "throat contusion".

During last night's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, Mike Ribeiro was accidentally speared in the throat with the blade of Christopher Higgins' stick as the two crossed paths in the neutral zone. Ribeiro went down immediately and had trouble getting off the ice under his own power. It was apparent he was having difficulty breathing, and he was taken to the hospital last night for X-rays and observation. He was kept overnight, since the doctors did not want any complications arising while he was on a flight. Sometime during the night, it seems there was a bit of an issue and Ribeiro underwent a tracheotomy.

Tracheotomies are performed when the patient has had their windpipe damaged so severely they cannot breathe properly on their own. Most likely what happened was that during the night the injury swelled to the point that he had trouble breathing, and a tracheotomy was performed (a breathing tube is surgically attached to the trachea just below the neck and above the ribcage). Intubation does not work due to the nature of the injury.

This is a serious injury, and I am sickened by some of the responses I've seen from other fans. I understand that Ribeiro had some issues in Montreal that will soil his reputation for the rest of his career, but at the end of the day this is someone's life. 

Like I stated tonight, expect for there to be a call up from the Texas Stars. Toby Petersen is capable of centering the fourth line while Modano and Tom Wandell move up, but with Brian Sutherby still ailing the Stars will need an extra forward while Ribeiro is out that long. Perttu Lindgren is my first choice, although Aaron Gagnon and Warren Peters deserve consideration as well. 

Press release after the jump.

Ribeiro underwent a procedure at St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan last night to repair the contusion, which included a tracheotomy. He is expected to stay in the hospital for a few days before returning to Dallas.

Ribeiro suffered the injury when he was hit in the neck by the stick of Rangers forward Chris Higgins at 15:32 of the second period last night. Higgins was assessed a two-minute minor penalty on the play.

Ribeiro has appeared in 43 games for the Stars this season, scoring 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points.