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Family 'overwhelmed' by support for injured hockey player

The family of junior hockey player Braden Pettinger, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a game on Nov. 12, says they are overwhelmed by multiple fundraisers for the 20-year-old.

A GoFundMe page for Braden has raised more than $122,000; a trust fund has also been established for him at Westoba Credit Union.

"We look at that GoFundMe page and you read the names.… Once in a while you see somebody that you know, but there are so many names that we don't know," said Rob Pettinger, Braden's uncle.

While the family appreciates money to help support Braden once he is out of hospital, the family is equally touched by the messages of support, he said.

"Seeing that people care … it just means a lot," Pettinger said.

It's a testament to how tightly knit the hockey community is in Canada, he added.

"So many people play hockey and love the sport and this is happened to somebody that, even if they don't know them, the hockey community feels it," he said.

Over the weekend, a number of fundraisers took place, including one put on by Braden's team, the Portage Terriers, and one put on by the Winkler Royals. Each raised more than $7,000.

Family cautiously hopeful

Braden is doing as well as could be hoped for an individual who has experienced a life-altering injury, said Pettinger.

Recently Braden experienced "a little sensation" in one arm, but the family is hesitant to read too much into it.

"I talked to his dad this morning and the first thing is Braden has to recover from the accident, and then enter the road of whatever comes next. Right now none of us know what is next," said Pettinger.

Braden remains in hospital at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre where he will be for the foreseeable future, he said.