Denna Laing GoFundMe seeks $50K for injured Winter Classic player (Update)

The women’s outdoor game at the 2016 Winter Classic was a landmark moment for the CWHL and the NWHL, but it wasn’t without some heartbreak.

Denna Laing, a forward for the Boston Pride, stepped on a stick and tumbled into the boards at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 31. She left the ice on a stretcher, and was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for her injuries.

Her status hasn’t been updated, per a request from her family. But a family friend has started a GoFundMe, seeking to raise $50K to help cover Laing’s costs:

Those who’ve been blessed with the opportunity to get to know Denna, know that she is one of the most caring, hard-working, and selfless people on this planet. She always has and will continue to confront adversity with relentless grit that is unparalleled. Our hope is that, in this time where we know Denna would be the one stepping up for you, you find the little piece of Denna in your heart, to help her and her family through this recovery process.

The money donated to this fund will be allocated to Denna and her family to use towards funding her medical expenses, along with any other expenses that we can help her family with during this hard time. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated.

There were some insurance issues leading up to the decision by the NHL to hold the game at the Classic. We’re not sure what the coverage was for a player like Laing, who moved from the Pride practice squad to the main roster as a replacement for the U.S. women’s players that were stuck at training camp.

According to Kate Cimini, fundraiser Sydney Daniels is “a family friend of Laing’s, and occasional on-ice rival when Laing, a Princeton hockey player, faced off against the Harvard team where Daniels played.”

Again, out of respect to the family, there haven’t been any details about Laing’s injuries shared after the game. Suffice it to say that word around the Winter Classic about her injuries wasn’t positive, and the silence about them underscores their severity.

Prayers to Deanna and her family, and please support any way you can.

UPDATE:

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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