SOURIS, Man. — A player has severe paralysis after a head-first crash into the end boards during a recent game in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Braden Pettinger, a 20-year-old defenceman with the Portage la Prairie Terriers, took a spill in a match with the Winnipeg Blues in Winnipeg on Nov. 12.
The young man from Souris, Man., was taken from the ice by paramedics before undergoing extensive surgery.
In a Facebook post, Pettinger’s parents said their son fractured the C5 vertebrae in his neck in several places, and that some bone fragments damaged his spinal cord. It is unknown whether or not he will recover from his injuries.
There were just three minutes left in the game when the accident occurred.
"There were two players; Braden and another player from the Blues," explained Kim Davis, commissioner of the MJHL. "They were shoulder-to-shoulder skating toward the puck.
"They were jostling a bit, not on top of each other, just side by side. Braden either slipped or tripped on his own and propelled forward toward the board and hit his head."
On Wednesday, Davis left Winnipeg for Toronto to speak with Hockey Canada about the incident.
Davis said he will also discuss added emotional and psychological supports, along with insurance options, for the family.
Pettinger’s parents and uncle were in attendance at the game.
"They must have been about 30 feet away from the play when the accident happened," said Davis.
His parents said Pettinger is currently paralyzed from the chest down, but does have some movement in his shoulders, elbows, wrists and some sensation in his fingers.
In the same Facebook post, Pettinger’s parents thanked everyone who has reached out to the family.
"Many people have called with messages of support or what they can do to help. Our message has been the same, please pray for him now and in the coming months," said his parents. "He is young, strong and has a positive attitude to win the biggest game of his life."
Pettinger had been traded by the Waywayseecappo Wolverines just days before.
A GoFundMe social media page has been set up to raise money for Pettinger and his family, and plans are being made for a social in Souris on Boxing Day to raise additional funds.
