A 16-year-old boy has died after he collided with a fellow ice hockey player at a Connecticut high school hockey game on Thursday, January 6.
Teddy Balkind died after another player’s ice skate slit his neck. The 10th grader of St. Luke’s School, a prep school in Greenwich, had fallen to the ground and the other player was unable to stop in time.
His dad was present at the game against Brunswick School which was immediately halted. Medics rushed to help.
He was taken to Greenwich Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
His school said the following day that staff’s “singular focus” was to care for a “community left devastated.”
“Yesterday, we lost a precious young man in a tragic accident,” according to the statement obtained by CBS 2. “Both St. Luke’s School and Brunswick School are in shock as we work to support our students and families.”
The National Hockey League released a statement on Twitter, with the hashtag #StickOutForTeddy, writing: “The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Teddy Balkind, a member of the hockey family lost too soon. Our prayers and most heartfelt condolences go out to his family, his St. Luke’s teammates, and his many friends.”
Camp Awosting, a camp Teddy had attended since 2014, sent out an email to families, describing his character. “Teddy Balkind was a fearless, beautiful soul, who was full of life and a friend to all,” the email read.
“He had an infectious, positive personality which quickly spread to others in all aspects of Awosting life. A born leader, he was humbled by being named the 2021 Iroquois Tribal Captain.”
On Monday, the state medical examiner ruled Teddy’s death at accidental, as per NBC News.
My heart goes out to all those mourning the loss of this young man taken too soon. There are some things in life I will never understand. RIP Teddy Balkind.
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