Manitoba junior hockey player Braden Pettinger paralyzed in fall

The family of Braden Pettinger is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support after the 20-year-old suffered paralysis following a fall into the boards last week while playing for the Portage La Prairie Terriers against the Winnipeg Blues of the MJHL.

Pettinger was battling for the puck in the final three minutes of his first game with the Terriers when he fell awkwardly into the boards.

"There were two players, Braden and a player from the opposing team moving towards the puck in the corner of the rink," said Kim Davis, commissioner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

"They were shoulder to shoulder, they were jostling a bit but there was no sort of grappling. They were just kind of moving towards the puck and something happened to Braden. Whether he slipped or tripped himself or [got] caught a rut in the ice, I mean, I don't really know, I don't know if anybody really knows," Davis told CBC's Radio Noon.

He fractured his C5 vertebra in his neck in several places, a statement from the family says.

"You feel sick. I mean that's the only way to describe it," Davis said.

"It's a terrible, terrible injury and the moment of it is the worst, and living with it is going to be even worse than that," Davis said.

Surgeons at Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre repaired the vertebrae, but currently Pettinger, who's from Elgin, Man., is paralyzed from the chest down.

Rob Pettinger, Braden's uncle, said he has some movement in his shoulders, elbows and wrist, and some sensation in his fingers.

"Many people have called with messages of support, or what can they do to help," a statement from the family reads.

"Our message has been the same, pray for him now and in the coming months. He is young and strong and has a positive attitude to win the biggest game of his life," the statement ends.

In one day, a Go Fund Me page created by the MJHL surpassed its original goal of $36,000. It also surpassed its subsequent goal of $50,000. The goal has now been increased to $58,000.

"It's unbelievable," Rob Pettinger said.

"It's very emotional to look at it. It will help just knowing so many people care."

More fundraising events are expected in the community in the new year.

Terriers captain Brad Bowles, 20, spoke about the players' shock in a post on the team's web page.

"When the team was first told of the news, everyone was shocked. It was something none of us were expecting. The room was quiet and it was really tough to think about what had really happened to Braden," Bowles said.

"It was hard watching a friend, a teammate go through a situation like this. We are all hoping and praying that he has a full and fast recovery. We want Braden to know that every time we step on the ice, we are going to be playing for him. He is still a part of this team and will always be a Portage Terrier."

Davis said the league has let the Terriers know there will be resources available for any player who needs assistance dealing with what they witnessed.

"The Winnipeg Blues, the opposing team on that night, there are a few players that are having some difficulty with it," Davis said.

"I've spoken to the coach of the Winnipeg Blues, Don MacGillivray, last night and said we can make resources available," Davis said.

Davis calls the hockey community in Manitoba small and tight-knit, and he's not surprised at the outpouring of support and concern for Pettinger.