The captain of the Academy of Holy Angels high school hockey team in the Twin Cities was hospitalized Saturday after suffering an injury in a scrimmage.
Mason Garcia, an 18-year-old senior at the Richfield-based school, is believed to have hit his head against the boards during a scrimmage at the White Bear Lake Scrimmage Fest at TCO Sports Garden on Saturday.
Holy Angels was playing Lakeville South when the injury happened.
“Please join the Lakeville South Hockey community as we send our thoughts and prayers to Holy Angels Senior Forward Mason Garcia, his family, and his Holy Angels hockey family. Mason suffered a back injury in today’s game and continues to undergo testing. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts!” a message from Lakeville South hockey reads on social media.
Patrick Griswold, the head coach at Holy Angels, told the Star Tribune that Garcia hit his head against the boards and was in and out of consciousness before being taken to a local hospital, where his movement in his hands and lower body was limited.
Good news came Sunday morning as Griswold said Garcia’s neck brace was removed and he was beginning physical therapy.
High school hockey practices began Nov. 13 and official games can start Nov. 22. The season runs through March before the state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul March 6-9, 2024.
