In what school officials called an “unimaginable tragedy,” a high school ice hockey player has died after sustaining a skate injury during a game.
At the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, a preparatory school, the accident occurred during a junior varsity game. St. Luke’s, a prep school in New Canaan, brought the visiting team.
An unstoppable Brunswick player collided with a St. Luke’s player as he fell to the ice during the game, police said.
Captain Mark Zuccerella of the Greenwich Police Department said 911 was called after the game was stopped.
Brunswick school officials told alumni Friday that the skate blade cut the St. Luke’s player’s neck. Brunswick medical staff treated the boy before transporting him to a nearby hospital, but “tragically, he was unable to survive the operation,” Brunswick officials said.
Teddy Balkind, a sophomore at St. Luke’s, was identified by the New Canaan Police Department.
Ted was known to all as an amazing young man, son, and brother, the New Canaan Fire Department said on social media. “The New Canaan Police Department extends its deepest condolences, prayers, and thoughts to the Balkind family and everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
Before the accident, Brunswick officials called the game “entirely normal and unremarkable.”
“We are devastated; an unimaginable tragedy,” Brunswick School Head of School Thomas Philip told ABC News. “I have, of course, met with the Head of School at St. Luke’s and have contacted the boy’s family to offer whatever help, support, or assistance we can during such a challenging time.”
Neither classes nor after-school activities were held Friday at St. Luke’s.
Mark Davis, head of St. Luke’s School in New York, told ABC station WABC that “our community is in mourning”. “We lost a precious young man in a tragic accident yesterday. Both St. Luke’s School and Brunswick School are in shock as we focus on supporting our students and families. St. Luke’s singular focus is to provide support to our community at this time.”
In the coming days, Brunswick officials plan to arrange counseling and support as needed for the hockey team.
Throughout Connecticut and beyond, the accident sent shockwaves throughout the hockey community.
“We woke up this morning with the heaviest hearts after hearing of the tragic loss of one of New Canaan’s own,” the New Canaan Hockey team tweeted this morning. “Teddy was a wonderful young man, always smiling, a terrific teammate. No words are adequate for the grief we are all feeling.”
North Attleboro High School Hockey called it an “incomprehensible loss of a young hockey player.”
“Our BIG RED HOCKEY family sends our thoughts, love and prayers to the St. Luke’s and Brunswick hockey communities,” the team tweeted.
