Denna Laing sustained ‘significant spinal injury’ in Outdoor Classic
Boston Pride forward Denna Laing sustained a “significant” spinal injury last week during last week‘s Outdoor Women’s Classic at Gillette Stadium.
The NWHL announced Friday that Laing, who was injured crashing into the boards, currently has limited movement in her arms and no feeling in her legs. She remains under evaluation in intensive care.
NWHL teams will wear helmet stickers with Laing’s number 24 in her honor, commissioner Dani Rylan announced in a statement. "The players, teams, coaches, management and staff of the National Women’s Hockey League are united in their support of Denna Laing and her family. To reflect our admiration for her as a player and our appreciation for her contribution to the NWHL’s first season, we are working with the Laings, our business partners and others to respond compassionately and appropriately to her injury.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also issued a statement.
“Everyone at the National Hockey League, including the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, joins Denna Laing’s coaches, teammates, friends and fans in wishing Denna the very best as she confronts the challenges ahead. While we are certain Denna will be served well by the tenaciousness that is her trademark, we also will work with the Laing family to rally the support of the hockey family during Denna's rehabilitation. We have withheld comment to this point out of respect for the wishes of the Laing family and will continue to honor those wishes going forward.”
Full statements from Laing's family, commissioners Rylan and Bettman and more can be found here.
Laing’s family and friends have set up a website for donations here.