Heartfelt tribute Friday night for a Connecticut high school hockey player who died in a tragic accident during a game after a fellow player was strangled by a skateboard.
Teddy Balkind, a Class 10 student, died at Greenwich Hospital shortly after the incident during a 5 p.m. game on Thursday night.
He was a student at St. Luke’s, a private school in New Canaan.
Teddy was playing against Brunswick School when he fell. As he lay down on the rink, another player walked towards him and collided with him, his father watching from the stand.
According to school and police officials, the player’s skate cut his neck.
The horrific accident on Friday left the community in mourning. Teddy’s bereaved family has yet to comment.
As news of his death spread, the hashtag ‘Stick Out for Teddy’ started circulating alongside a picture of a hockey stick, a reference to the sad tribute in 2018 when a bus carrying a Humboldt Broncos team from Canada’s Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Collided. With a tractor-trailer, 15 people were killed – players, coaches and a broadcaster.
Brian Munz of Canada’s TSN Network posted a photo of a friend in Humboldt who had left a single stick on his front porch, tweeting: ‘Leaving it on the porch tonight. Boys may need it… wherever they are. #SticksOutForHumboldt.’
The sad tradition continued for Teddy on Friday night.
Teddy Balkind, a Class 10 student, died in hospital soon after the incident during a 5 pm game on Thursday night. He was a student at St. Luke’s, a private school in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Teddy was playing against Brunswick School when he fell. As he lay down on the rink, another player walked up to him and collided with him, his father watching from the stand
The Dallas Penguins posted a tribute to Teddy, urging fans to put out their hockey sticks to honor the teenager
Anaheim Ducks star Kevin Shatterkirk joins teen in tribute
Kevin Shattenkirk, a member of the US Olympic team and school-going Anaheim Ducks in Greenwich, tweeted: “The hockey world is shocked by the tragic loss of Teddy Balkind yesterday.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the young players at St Luke’s and Brunswick and in particular the Balkind family. Rest in Peace Teddy #SticksOutForTeddy.’
Fellow Anaheim Ducks player Adam Heinrich tweeted: ‘Sad to hear of the tragic loss of Teddy Balkind. My thoughts and prayers are with the Balkind family. #sticksoutfortdy.
Martin St. Louis, a Canadian Olympian who played in the NHL until his retirement with the New York Rangers, tweeted a photo of his front door, captioned: ‘Sticks out for Teddy.’
Cam Atkinson, who was born in Greenwich and now plays as a forward for the Philadelphia Flyers, tweeted: ‘I grieve for the Balkind family and everyone who knows and loves Teddy.
‘We are sending our love to the St Luke and Brunswick communities. A horrific tragedy the game we all love.’
The Dallas Penguins Junior Hockey League also urged its community to join in the tribute.
He said, ‘The DJHA would like to express its condolences to the family of Teddy Balkind and we stand with the hockey community tonight at #SticksOutForTeddy.
‘Join us in getting out your wand for Penn Nation, Teddy, and turning on your porch lights. What a loss for all of us.’
The teenager was a student at St. Luke’s, a private school in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was playing against Brunswick School at Hartong Rink in Brunswick on Thursday night (pictured) when he fell to the ground
In an email to parents on Friday, St Luke’s school head Mark Davies said: ‘Our community is in mourning.
‘Yesterday, we lost a precious young man in a tragic accident. St Luke’s School and Brunswick School are both in shock as we work to support our students and families.
‘scheduled tribe. Luke’s sole focus at this time is to care for our devastated community. Thank you for your concern and for honoring our need to grieve.
‘There are not enough words for this moment, and I know we will all support each other as much as possible.’
The school – which was due to conduct distance classes only on Friday due to heavy snowfall – is now closed.
Greenwich Police captain Mark Zucarello told The Greenwich Times on Thursday that another player collided with Balkind while he was on the field.
A player from the other team fell in the snow. Another player who was near the dropped player was unable to stop, and collided with the fallen player,’ he said.
St. Luke’s is a co-educational private school in New Canaan, a wealthy suburb in Connecticut.
Tuition runs up to $47,000 for the 2021-2022 school year.
The student was a student at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. school is closed on friday
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