NHL, hockey community honor Connecticut teen who died from injury in game

The hockey community, including the NHL and several teams and players, took to social media to honor Teddy Balkind, a 16-year-old who died from an injury sustained in a Connecticut high school hockey game Thursday.

Balkind, who was a sophomore defenseman at St. Luke's School in New Canaan, collided with a player from Brunswick School in Greenwich and sustained a severe neck injury. He was transported to Greenwich Hospital but did not survive surgery.
"Our community is mourning," St. Luke's Head of School Mark Davis said to WABC-TV in New York. "Yesterday, we lost a precious young man in a tragic accident. Both St. Luke's School and Brunswick School are in shock as we work to support our students and families. St. Luke's singular focus at this moment is to care for our devastated community. Thank you for your concern and for respecting our need to grieve."

Balkind was a longtime hockey player, often wearing No. 5. To remember him, the Carolina Hurricanes dedicated a locker to Balkind, labeled with his name and number.

To show support for Balkind, his family and others in mourning, the hockey community started the hashtag #SticksOutForTeddy on Twitter, showing NHL players and others displaying their sticks outside houses and buildings in remembrance of Balkind. Philadelphia Flyers forward and Riverside, Connecticut, native Cam Atkinson tweeted he is "heartbroken for the Balkind family and everyone who knew and loved Teddy."
Atkinson also wrote Balkind's initials with a heart on his stick for the Flyers-Sharks game Saturday.

"So sad and such a tragic event in my hometown," Atkinson said after the Flyers morning skate Monday. "I've been on the phone with a lot of good buddies back home that are mutual friends with Teddy's family, even this morning before practicing. There's going to be a GoFundMe page, I think starting within the next week or two. It's kind of all still in motion right now. I've had a lot of other players around the league reach out to me, guys from Connecticut like Johnny Quick, Nick Bonino, Max Pacioretty, these guys, we all grew up kind of in that area. Kevin Shattenkirk, who played at Brunswick, wanted to help out any way he can. There's a petition going around that it's mandatory for neck guards now. It's just so sad and I can only imagine what that family is going through, and obviously the players on the ice and everyone involved. My heart goes out to that family and everyone involved, the guys on the ice and anyway we can help out we will."
Anaheim Ducks defenseman and New Rochelle, New York, native Kevin Shattenkirk shared his condolences on Twitter.

Ducks forward Adam Henrique tweeted a photo of his hockey stick with the caption, "Sad to hear about the tragic loss of Teddy Balkind. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Balkind family. #sticksoutforteddy."
Boston Bruins forward Nick Foligno tweeted, "Sending all my family's love to the Balkind family! Just heard the unimaginable news and wanted to send our comfort and strength to the Balkind's and the friends around them as they mourn the loss of Teddy. Life is precious. This has been another harsh reminder. God bless."
Martin St. Louis, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who played 1,134 games in the NHL from 1998-2015, now resides in Connecticut. St. Louis tweeted a photo of the three sticks he placed outside his home with the caption, "Sticks out for Teddy."

The New York Islanders displayed over 20 sticks for Balkind.

BAUER Hockey also tweeted condolences.

The Los Angeles Kings placed sticks outside their locker room and held a moment of silence before their game Saturday.

Balkind was a member of the New Canaan Winter Club hockey team, which tweeted Friday that, "Teddy was a wonderful young man, always smiling, a terrific teammate. No words are adequate for the grief we are all feeling. Our prayers are with Teddy and his family."
"Last night, the New Canaan Winter Club, along with the broader hockey community lost a beloved teammate, friend and community member," the club said in a statement. "Teddy Balkind skated for the Winter Club throughout his youth hockey career and was known to us all as a hard worker and terrific young hockey player. The Winter Club is heartbroken, and we join the worldwide hockey family in grief for this unfortunate accident. As the hockey community does, in the coming days, weeks and months we will rally around the Balkind family in support."