Early January, the tragic news of the death of Teddy Balkind, a sophomore on the St. Luke’s Junior Varsity Boys Hockey team, during a game against Brunswick, permeated countless communities — St. Luke’s, Brunswick, the NHL, and even our very own Loomis Chaffee community. These different communities united in support of the Balkind family and the St. Luke’s School; all feeling the effects of this horrific accident. Around the world, many hockey families even left hockey sticks outside of their homes in commemoration of the young player.
Two hockey players from our respective Girls and Boys Varsity teams took the time to reflect on the devastating loss of Teddy Balkind and its impact on the hockey world.
Oliver Flynn ’22, member of the Boys Varsity Hockey team, offered the following sentiments: “I know coming from the entire hockey community, everyone felt hurt at the tragic accident that happened. But I think as a whole team collectively it made us reflect on what we have and being grateful to be able to skate and play the sport we love every day.”
Representing the Girls Varsity Hockey team, Hamilton Doster ’23 said: “The Loomis Hockey family extends their deepest condolences to all those who knew and loved Teddy. The idea of losing a teammate to the sport we all love is truly unfathomable. Hockey forms an unbreakable bond between us all and our team can not even begin to imagine the devastation his teammates are feeling. May we all continue to keep Teddy’s family and friends in our prayers throughout the grief of this unimaginable tragedy.”