Bishop Feehan Hockey Player AJ Quetta Seriously Hurt During Game

ATTLEBORO (CBS) – Bishop Feehan High School is rallying around a hockey player injured on the ice Tuesday night. Senior AJ Quetta was playing for the Shamrocks against Pope Francis in West Springfield when he crashed headfirst into the boards.

Bishop Feehan President Tim Sullivan said his teammates and opposing players got together after the game to show their support.

"It was a long delay when AJ was injured and the kids went back out and skated again and I'm sure that second half was, for everybody, pretty emotional," Sullivan said. "Then at the end of the game to have them circle up for AJ, was pretty special."

The senior center was taken to Baystate Medical Center after the injury that occurred on a fairly routine looking play, lying motionless until a stretcher took him from the ice.

A GoFundMe page for the 18-year-old indicates that this accident threatens to leave him paralyzed.

At another local high school game in Attleboro Wednesday night, some veteran hockey parents shared their longtime fears. "It's always in the back of your head. The boys love to play and you just pray it will never happen to you," said Christine Holske. "Every time I see a kid go into the boards my first thought is please, please move your arms and legs."

But they also noted that the hockey community is tight knit. "He'll have a lot of support, the family will have a lot of support," Linc Holske said. "That's kind of what hockey parents do."

The Boston Bruins tweeted that the team is keeping AJ's family and community in their hearts during the difficult time.

Friends say they have already reached out to the Travis Roy Foundation, created by the late Boston University player paralyzed on his first college shift, who became a champion for those with spinal cord injuries.

"When things are tough you count on your friends and your faith and you move forward one step at a time," Sullivan said.

The GoFundMe page for AJ was set up Wednesday afternoon and has already raised more than $200,000.