Hockey Player Dies After Suffering Head Injury In On-Ice Fight

It’s a tragic start to the New Year for the Whitby Dunlops hockey team. One of their defenceman, Don Sanderson, died early Friday of injuries related to an on-ice fight.

Sanderson had been in a coma and on life support at Hamilton General Hospital since December 13, when he underwent brain surgery for an injury he sustained during a game the previous day.

The 21-year-old from Port Perry, Ont. suffered head trauma after hitting the ice surface during a game in Brantford, Ont. He had apparently been fighting with player from the opposing team, the Brantford Blast, when it happened.

The family confirmed Sanderson’s death shortly after midnight on Friday, and a note was posted on the team’s website.

It read, “Our sincere condolences go to the Sanderson family on the tragic loss of their son, Don. It is with much sadness that I report that after a three week fight for life Don Sanderson passed away early this morning around 1 at Hamilton General Hospital. Funeral arrangements will be posted as we are informed.” 

Witnesses said that the 21-year-old’s helmet fell off during the fight. His head struck the ice at one point and that’s when he sustained the critical injury.

Sanderson had previously played in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League for the Ajax Attack and Trenton Sting.

“It’s just such a tragedy for a young man, 21 years of age to lose his life this way,” said Dunlops President Steve Cardwell.

“He was such a competitor and such a wonderful young man, and that’s really what the story is … clearly it was an accident and I don’t think anybody could have foreseen it ending this way.

Sanderson’s teammates also spoke in memory of the young blueliner Friday.

“He’s such a good kid, and I just want to stress that he was such a great individual, a great hockey player and a great teammate,” said fellow Whitby player Peter Mackellar.

Still, Sanderson’s death brings the issue of fighting in hockey back to the forefront, as well as the debate about whether more should be done to discourage the on-ice brawls. Michael Penman of the Greater Toronto Hockey League believes that, in the case of younger players, parents should have an influence on their child’s attitude to the game.

“Parents have a large role to play,” he notes. “They can determine what kind of game their child plays.”

However Norm Rumack, a sportscaster for The Fan 590, notes, “It always has been a part of the game. I know some people, some viewers in our country and our viewing area here are upset by it. I think if you ask the vast majority of hockey players, not all, the vast majority would say they don’t want it removed from the game.”

A Facebook page has been set up as a tribute to the player and so far there are roughly 1,500 friends, family members, and other well-wishers on it.

Send email well-wishes to the family and the team.

Every player in the Major Hockey League will be wearing on their helmet a sticker with Sanderson’s No. 40 for the rest of the season.

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