A Smiths Falls hockey player injured in a hockey game in mid-December has been transferred to the Ottawa Hospital.
19-year-old Neil Doef was representing Eastern Canada at an international junior tournament in Saskatchewan when he suffered a serious injury. The extent of his injury remains unclear.
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.
Both the hockey and Smiths Falls community have rallied around the teenager and his family, raising money to help offset costs. So far, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised and put into a trust fund for Doef.
The pro shop at the local hockey rink in Smiths Falls is donating one dollar from every skate sharpening to the DoefStrong trust fund.
"Their family is awesome. They have always been part of the community," said Nancy Fontyn.
"They have always done so many great things for the community, that we just wanted to give back."
Fontyn, like many others, has known Doef and his family for decades. The small town's efforts have encouraged even those who don't know the family to help out.
Teri White, a local designer who owns Swirlicious, has started making necklaces and keychains with Doef's hockey number and name on them. Five dollars from each item goes to the family.
Stickers with Doef's number, number 19, are also being made in bulk to show support for Doef and his family. So far, about 1,000 stickers have been made.
His family has asked for their privacy, but on Facebook they thanked the community for their support.
