“There are no words adequate to this moment, and I know all of us will support each other as best as we can,” St. Luke’s Head of School Mark Davis wrote to the school community. Davis said Balkind died as “a result of an injury suffered” in a hockey game at Brunswick. While school was closed because of the weather Friday, Davis said it would open at noon after roads were cleared so students and staff could gather to grieve.
“While nothing can take away the pain, just being together can provide comfort and a way for us to absorb the unimaginable,” Davis wrote.
Greenwich police said the injury took place on the ice during a 5 p.m. game at Brunswick.
During the normal course of the game, “a player from the other team fell to the ice,” according to a statement from Greenwich police.
“Another player who was near the downed player was unable to stop, and collided with the player who fell,” stated police Capt. Mark Zuccerella.
The downed hockey player was rushed to Greenwich Hospital, and “died as a result of the injury,” Zuccerella said.
Brunswick Head of School Thomas Philip released a statement Friday to school alumni about the tragic incident.
“During a JV ice hockey game last night against St. Luke’s, a member of the opposing team’s neck was accidentally cut by a skate. All who witnessed the play (from both schools) apparently describe play as entirely normal and unremarkable in the game of hockey.
“The boy was immediately treated by our medical staff (the boy’s father was present throughout) and was eventually transported to Greenwich Hospital, where he was treated in the ER and then operated on.
“Tragically, he did not survive the operation,” Philip said
According to Philip, he and Davis, along with coaches from both teams, were at the hospital Thursday evening.
“I want to commend our medical, coaching and security staff for all that they did in the most terrible of circumstances to sustain the boy until the ambulance arrived,” Philip wrote in his letter.
On Friday, Davis told Hearst Connecticut Media that the community was in mourning.
“Yesterday, we lost a precious young man in a tragic accident,” he said. “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.”
A sophomore at St. Luke’s, Balkind attended New Canaan public schools for elementary school.
“Many of our students were friends with this student and his family,” New Canaan Superintendent Bryan Luizzi said in a statement. Luizzi said the district’s counselors were available to provide help and support to anyone who might benefit. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the entire St. Luke’s community.
Staff writers Grace Duffield and Scott Ericson contributed to this report.