Gongshow Hockey Community Pulls for Injured Player
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Posted by MAC@GSH

ALISON SEBASTIAN Canadian Press FORWARD FROM MAC: The Gongshow Hockey lads on behalf of all the members wish the speedy recoevry of this young hockey player, and hope that he is able to pull through his injuries from early Sunday Morning.... MOOSE JAW -- Bob Bell and Cheryl Aitken woke up early, poured some coffee and flipped on the TV. When Mr. Bell heard the noise, he thought his truck parked at the side of his home had been hit. "It was a grinding noise, unmistakable, of sliding down asphalt." It was still dark Sunday morning in the Saskatchewan community, sunrise still an hour away. Mr. Bell opened his side door to see what had happened and saw that his truck was fine. But walking around the corner of their house, Mr. Bell and Ms. Aitken saw a severely smashed car in the front yard. In it were three junior hockey players from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. Joey Perricone, a 19-year-old goaltender from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and Carter Smith, an 18-year-old forward from Eyebrow, Sask., would be treated in hospital for minor injuries and released. But Garrett Robinson, an 18-year-old winger from Surrey, B.C., would be rushed to Regina General Hospital, where he would undergo surgery on life-threatening head injuries. His parents flew to Regina from Vancouver to be at his bedside. The player was in critical condition yesterday, said team general manager Chad Lang. Mr. Robinson's teammates were instructed not to speak to the media. Mr. Bell said he and Ms. Aitken didn't realize that another vehicle had been involved in the devastating crash. The truck that hit the car the players were in was a full block north of the crash site. Moose Jaw police were still investigating yesterday, although alcohol was believed to be a factor. Charges were pending against the truck driver, who was not in custody. The three athletes were returning from a road trip in Alberta. "We could hear the one kid breathing badly. I went to see if the door would open, but it was jammed," Mr. Bell said. A female passenger in the truck came running down....CONTINUED

the block to Mr. Bell's house. The teenager, who is friends with Mr. Bell and Ms. Aitken's son, was hysterical, Mr. Bell said.

By that time, Ms. Aitken was on the phone with 911. At one point, she held the phone near Mr. Robinson's face so the person on the line could hear how he was breathing.

Mr. Bell estimated that ambulance and police were there in 3½ minutes.

Mr. Robinson was unconscious and Mr. Perricone was holding his head to keep his airway opened.

"The floodlights were on him and you could see the extent of his injuries, his physical injuries at least. We stayed outside and tried to take care of the other kids, making sure none of them were taking off," Ms. Aitken said of the truck's passengers.

Mr. Bell said none of the people in the truck had visible injuries.

Later, two other teammates came to the scene. Ms. Aitken said she would not comment on what they said, but described them as being "devastated."

Mr. Lang said teammates were doing as well as could be expected. The team was told about the crash at a meeting on Sunday. Counsellors were being brought in to help the players.

Mr. Robinson, a third-year left-winger, recorded two assists in 57 games last season. He had already matched that total in eight games this year.