The hockey community is rallying around Neil Doef of Smiths Falls, a 17-year-old rising star who was seriously injured Sunday.
Doef was representing Eastern Canada at an international junior tournament in Saskatchewan when he went hard into the boards. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He underwent surgery Sunday night. The nature of Doef's injury remains unknown. His family flew to Saskatchewan to be with him.
Doef is a star with the Smiths Falls Bears and had committed to a hockey scholarship at Princeton. The tournament he was playing in was a showcase for top young prospects around the world.
His teammates on Hockey East will honor Doef the rest of the tournament by wearing his number on their helmets. The Smiths Falls Bears have set up a trust fund to help the family. You can donate at any Scotiabank Branch.
The team is also trying to organize some kind of fundraiser for their next home game Friday night.
