NHL Player From Darien Designs Helmet Honoring Teddy Balkind

DARIEN, CT — Darien's own Spencer Knight, a goalie for the Florida Panthers, has debuted a new helmet — and it's in honor of Teddy Balkind, the 10th-grader who died after suffering injuries during a Connecticut hockey game.

The helmet includes sketched photos of Balkind, a reference to St. Luke's School, and messages like #SticksOutForTeddy — the movement hockey teams nationwide honored Balkind with after his death — and #BeMoreTeddy.

"It's so important in times like this to make sure that we just come together," Knight says in a video on his Instagram page. "I thought this helmet would be... a great way to, you know, represent the Connecticut hockey community and everyone that knew Teddy, and his family."

Knight said he met with Balkind's teammates over Zoom and used their ideas for the helmet.

Photos of the helmet can be found on Knight's Instagram account, @slknight35.

Balkind, who was a 10th grader at St. Luke's school in New Canaan, died after suffering injuries in a hockey game on Jan. 6.

Though he was transported to the hospital for surgery following the injury, he died as a result of it, News 12 CT reported.

Related:

• High School Hockey Player Who Died Identified As 10th Grader
• 'We Lost A Precious Young Man': Hockey Tragedy Stuns Communities
• St. Luke's Sets Record Straight On Fatal Hockey Accident
• Proposed Bill Would Mandate Neck Guards For Youth Hockey In CT