Severe Spinal Cord Injury for Marblehead Hockey Player

Marblehead, MA - Denna Laing sustained a severe spinal cord injury when she crashed into the boards at the first NWHL Winter Classic game at Gillette Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

On Friday, Laing’s parents, Jerilyn and Dennis, released a statement that read: “As of today, Denna has limited movement of her arms and no feeling in her legs. Our prayer going forward is that Denna can be moved from the Intensive Care Unit to a Rehabilitation Center and continue to fight everyday with her trademark grit and resolve. With respect to her long term prognosis, right now there are more questions than answers.”

Laing, who is from Marblehead, is currently being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital.

She was injured playing for the Boston Pride in the outdoor game in Foxboro against the Montreal Canadiennes.

“The Kraft family and entire Gillette Stadium community were deeply saddened to learn of the extent of Denna Laing’s injuries,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “Our prayers remain with Denna and her family in the hope that she will soon be able to transition to a rehabilitation center that will enable her to continue to improve. We will keep Denna and her family in our prayers throughout her rehabilitation process.”

Laing played college hockey at Princeton and works as a witness victim advocate at the Essex County district attorney’s office.

Those who wish to donate to help with Laing’s medical expenses or follow the latest news on her progress can visit http://www.dennalaing.org/.

Photo courtesy NWHL