Long Island high school hockey player now walking…
A Long Island high school hockey player whose off-ice, near-death expertise and damaged neck rocked the sports activities world is miraculously walking and back for his senior yr.
“There were several big miracles,” Mark Dubeau, father of Smithtown West’s Connor Dubeau, told The Post.
Last month, Connor had slipped and fallen under the waters of Gilgo Beach, breaking the C-4 bone in his neck, and rendering the 17-year-old briefly paralyzed while under the water.
Close pal and junior Islanders teammate Kevin Bonino, a senior who also performs for Chaminade High School, shortly sprang into motion at the seaside. He obtained his buddy above water before working out of oxygen, thanks to the help of another younger man, Jake Geller.
“He was able to walk out of the hospital almost two-and-a-half-weeks later,” said Mark, who added that his son’s neck surgical procedure and recovery went exceptionally effectively because of the height condition he stayed in for hockey. “It’s incredible… it’s really good for him to actually be back at school.”
And, throughout the ordeal, Connor was shown an overwhelming quantity of love.
Bonino, who Mark described as “a great, great hockey player, a great teammate,” wouldn’t go away Connor’s facet in the hospital as “you could tell there’s a special bond between those two guys.”
“Kevin coming to see Connor all the time even became therapeutic for me,” said Mark.
Long Island high school hockey player Connor Dubeau is now walking after not too long ago struggling an off-ice, near-death expertise and damaged neck. Photo courtesy of Mark Dubeau
Soon enough, the story of the teenager’s perilous journey started making its means to the NHL.
Fellow Long Islander and Boston Bruins draft choose James Hagens called Connor during his recovery; Islanders captain Anders Lee was texting him, while workforce alum Matt Martin and Josh Bailey also reached out.
“Connor’s favorite player, P.K. Subban, ended up sending him a personal text message with a video and posted about him on social media,” said Mark.
Friends Kevin Bonino (heart) and Jake Geller (proper), who helped save Connor Dubeau’s life after he suffered a near-death expertise when he fell under the waters of Gilgo Beach and broke his neck. Photo courtesy of Chaminade High School
“Then, to top it off, two weekends ago, Mr. Bobby Orr called Connor. The hockey community has just been awesome.”
All of that pales in comparability to the best reward of all for the Dubeau household: a comfortable and healthy son.
“Connor has been going to hockey practice at least two times a week just to see his friends in the locker room,” added his father.
Connor Dubeau Photo courtesy of Mark Dubeau
In soccer, 2-0 Farmingdale hosts 1-1 Herricks/Wheatley Friday at 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, 2-0 Jericho travels to 1-1 MacArthur at 2 p.m.
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