While the Humboldt Broncos were being honoured at the National Hockey League awards, and the draft, Layne Matechuk and Morgan Gobeil remained in hospital.
While both players remain in hospital, both have received good news over the past week.
Gobeil, while unable to attend as he remains in hospital recovering from his injuries, officially graduated high school during the Humboldt Collegiate Institute graduation ceremony on June 28.
Matechuk meanwhile, also remains in hospital but his family says he is getting “a little closer by the day” in his recovery.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority sent out an update on Matechuk’s health on his family’s behalf.
“After spending the first month in a coma, Layne is now awake and making steady progress. He has suffered from a brain injury and the journey ahead will not be easy. He has not yet been able to speak. However, each day, he gets a little stronger and we are getting signs from him about what he is thinking,” noted the press release.
Matechuk’s family says Layne still does not appear to know what happened, noting he shows visible signs of frustration but also plenty of determination.
“Layne has always had to work hard to achieve his success. While growing up, as other kids played after school, he would be at the rink working towards his dream of playing hockey. It was all he ever wanted to do. And for a while, he lived that dream.”
Layne has been moved from Royal University Hospital (RUH), where he spent the first part of his recovery, to Saskatoon City Hospital where he will continue in his recovery process.
“We wish we could tell you it is getting easier. The reality is – it’s not. At this point, we are not sure when Layne will get to leave hospital. But, what we can tell you is that we believe he gets a little closer every day,” noted the release.
The Matechuk family also thanked everyone for their support for Layne since the April 6 tragedy, including the doctors and staff at RUH for their help in his recovery process.
“#believe is the word we are holding onto these days. Layne’s coach talked about this often. He believed the team was not a fifth place team, but a number one team. He told the players that they had to believe in order to accomplish something,” they said in the release.
“We #believe the strength and determination that brought Layne success on the ice will bring him success in the months and years ahead. We ask that you continue to send your prayers and support to him - and to think of him. And most of all, we ask that you #believe with him and us.”
While the family has asked for everyone to keep Layne in their thoughts, they have also requested privacy as they work through his recovery as a family.
