Women’s Hockey Player Kaitlyn Klein On Road To Recovery After Suffering Broken Neck

ST. PETER, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore women’s hockey player Kaitlyn Klein (Plymouth, Minn.) is on the road to recovery after suffering a broken neck during last Sunday’s game against Plattsburgh State University in Middlebury, Vermont. Klein is back home after having successful surgery at the University of Vermont Medical Center to repair her C7 vertebrae.

“At the time I thought Kaitlyn and the Plattsburgh player had just collided and she hit her head, but after looking at the video it was clear that Kaitlyn went head first into the boards,” Head Coach Mike Carroll said. “Kaitlyn was coming in to forecheck, the puck was behind the net and their defender was getting pressured by one of our other players. Kaitlyn came after another player right on the icing line and that player lost her edge. Kaitlyn then hit her, fell over and went straight into the boards.”

Gustavus graduate assistant athletic trainer Ashley Krug responded to Klein on the ice and after assessing her condition, took the correct steps to spine-board Klein and call for an ambulance. Head Athletic Trainer Troy Banse said all three schools – Gustavus, Middlebury College and Plattsburgh State – worked well together to give Klein the correct treatment.

“Her parents were there, which was good for a lot of reasons,” Carroll said. “The surgery was successful and she came back yesterday morning. She’s certainly happy to be home.”

As a result of her current condition, Klein will not be able to finish the semester at school, but Carroll said she is expected to make a full recovery.

“Upon her return to school, we will do everything in our power to help Kaitlyn rehab and get back to her normal lifestyle,” Banse said.