A young hockey player from Souris suffered severe paralysis after crashing head-first into the end boards at the MTS Ice Plex on Nov. 12.
With three miniutes left in his first game with the Portage La Prairie Terriers, defenceman Braden Pettinger crashed into the boards during a game against the Winnipeg Blues.
“There were two players; Braden and another player from the Blues. They were shoulder-to-shoulder skating towards the puck," Manitoba Junior Hockey League Commissioner Kim Davis told CTV Wednesday.
"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 towards the board and hit his head," said Davis.
The 20-year-old was removed from the ice by paramedics.
There was no penalty called on the play.
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.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, 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.
He underwent a lengthy surgery at Health Sciences Centre and it is unknown whether or not he will recover from his injuries.
"At the current time Braden is paralyzed from the chest down," the post read. "He does have some movement in his shoulders, elbows, wrists and some feeling 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.
His uncle told CTV the family is overwhelmed by the community support they’ve received.
Pettinger’s uncle said that the coaching staff, led by Blake Spiller, has been a pillar of strength.
He said Pettinger was thrilled to join the Terriers in his last year playing Manitoba Junior League Hockey, and hoped for a college career in the sport.
A Go Fund Me page was set up to raise money for Pettinger and his family.
Community members in Souris are also planning a social for him on Boxing Day.
