An 11-year-old boy has died after getting hit in the neck by a puck during a junior hockey league practice near Montreal earlier this week, police confirmed Friday.

The incident occurred at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, when police and ambulance services responded to a 911 call at the Walter-Buswell arena in St-Eustache. The boy was brought to a Montreal hospital intensive care unit.

The St-Eustache police department said earlier in the week that an investigation showed the boy was hit by accident and that he was wearing all the required protective equipment at the time.

Lt. Olivier Boucher said Friday the puck struck the boy in the neck. Police have not said when the boy died.

Marie-Jo毛l Desaulniers, communications director for provincial hockey association Hockey Qu茅bec, confirmed in an email that a playerB次元官网网址檚 complete set of protective equipment includes a neck guard.

Reacting to the news of the boyB次元官网网址檚 death, his league B次元官网网址� Association du hockey mineur de St-Eustache B次元官网网址� extended its condolences to his family and loved ones.

B次元官网网址淲e are profoundly saddened by this tragedy shaking all the members of our association,B次元官网网址� league president Jean-Philippe Labr猫che said in the Friday statement, calling the last few days B次元官网网址渆xtremely emotional.B次元官网网址� The association said earlier in the week that it had offered psychological support resources to volunteers, players and their families.

With the exception of tournament matches, the association cancelled all games and practices until Monday, Labr猫che said in a Facebook post later Friday afternoon.

QuebecB次元官网网址檚 minister responsible for sports, Isabelle Charest, shared condolences on X: B次元官网网址淎 sadness without words,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淚 am devastated to learn of the death of this young hockey player.B次元官网网址�

Police said they plan to assist in the Quebec coronerB次元官网网址檚 investigation into the boyB次元官网网址檚 death.

In a statement, Hockey Canada said all approved hockey programs for minors require players to use neck guards, which B次元官网网址渞educe the risk of direct lacerations on the neck caused by contact with a skate blade.B次元官网网址�

But the equipment doesnB次元官网网址檛 offer substantial protection against direct, hard impact, according to Trent McCleary, a former Montreal Canadiens player who in 2000 suffered a career-ending puck strike to the throat during an NHL game.

The hit fractured McClearyB次元官网网址檚 larynx and endangered his life, he said in a phone interview Friday. He wasnB次元官网网址檛 wearing a neck guard at the time of the injury, but said it likely B次元官网网址渨ouldnB次元官网网址檛 have matteredB次元官网网址� because a neck guard wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have protected him from such a high-velocity slam.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 believe that thereB次元官网网址檚 any neck protection that can protect from the impact,B次元官网网址� he said.

The Montreal Canadiens issued a statement Friday on their X account, saying the organization was saddened to learn of the boyB次元官网网址檚 death. B次元官网网址淥ur thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.B次元官网网址�

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