A 10th-grade hockey player died after a collision on the ice at a game in Greenwich, Connecticut, Thursday evening.
The player, a student from St. Luke's School in New Canaan, fell to the ice and was cut on the neck by the skate of another player during a game, school officials and police said.
St. Luke's identified the player Friday as Teddy Balkind. The other player was unable to stop and collided with him, Greenwich Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said Friday.
Balkind was rushed to Greenwich Hospital and died as a result of the injury, Zuccerella said.
The accident occurred Thursday around 5 p.m. as the junior varsity team at the Brunswick school, a college preparatory school for boys in Greenwich, played St. Luke's School, a private co-educational school from New Canaan.
St. Luke's Head of School Mark Davis released a statement about the tragedy:
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"Our community is mourning. 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."
Sports
Members of the Brunswick School community are also coping after the tragedy.
"We are devastated; an unimaginable tragedy," Brunswick's Head of School Thomas W. Philip said in a statement to NBC News.
"I have, of course, met with the Head of School at St. Luke's and have contacted the boy's family to offer whatever help, support, or assistance we can during such a challenging time," he continued. "Please keep all concerned in your prayers."
No classes were held on Friday because of a snow storm, but St. Luke’s Head of School Mark Davis said the building would be open in the afternoon so that the community could gather to grieve.
“There are no words adequate to this moment, and I know all of us will support each other as best as we can,” he said.
