Bruins Player Supports Injured Milton Academy Hockey Player

MILTON, MA — Nothing but kind words of hope and support have been offered to 18-year-old Jake Thibeault who suffered a spinal cord injury on the ice last Saturday.

The Milton Academy hockey player was left paralyzed from the waist down after suffering from a mild brain hemorrhage when a player from another team slammed him into the boards during last Saturday's Eastern Alliance Kickoff tournament.

On Sunday, a fundraiser was organized in Boston's Seaport to help raise money for the Milton Academy senior's recovery.

Friends, family, teachers and coaches gathered to the event, alongside Boston Bruins and Charlestown native Matt Grzelcyk, who said he was impressed by the teen's toughness.

"The mental fortitude he has shown so far is really impressive," Grzelcyk said. "And I know being a local guy, playing for the Bruins, we are going to try and support him as best as we can," NECN reported the NHL player saying.

The family reported Grzelcyk also visited Thibeault in the hospital last week before attending the auction.

The Boston Bruins issued a statement last week, offering support to the teen and the rest of the Milton Academy hockey community.

Jake's father knows this will be a devastating loss for his son, but holds hope that he will get back on the ice.

"He may have missed achieving his dream by the thinnest of slivers but in our eyes he made it," his father wrote on Facebook. "Now it's time for him to create new dreams to chase!!!"

"Today I was able to sit up with the support of the wonderful healthcare team, here in Worcester. I'm going to fight this fight like hell, the road is going to be long but because of each and every one of you, it makes it a little bit easier," Thibeault was quoted saying in an update on his GoFundMe page over the weekend.

The GoFundMe link can be found here.

For the original story see: Milton Academy Hockey Player Paralyzed After Serious Injury