GoFundMe page set up for injured KamloopsBlazer

Family, friends and the Western Hockey League have rallied around an injured player.

Kyrell Sopotyk, a 19-year-old forward for the Kamloops Blazers, was injured in a snowboarding accident over the weekend at Table Mountain, just west of North Battleford, Sask., that has left him paralyzed.

A GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/f/help-supportthe-sopotyks) was set up for Sopotyk on Sunday and as of Monday afternoon had raised a little over $109,000, more than doubling the original goal of $50,000.

Sopotyk, who hails from Aberdeen Sask. was drafted by the Blazers in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

The WHL released a statement Sunday.

“Everyone associated with the Western Hockey League is deeply saddened by the devastating news regarding Kamloops Blazers forward Kyrell Sopotyk. The WHL and our member Clubs extend our thoughts and prayers to Kyrell, the entire Sopotyk family, Kyrell’s teammates with the Kamloops Blazers, and all his friends during this challenging time.”

The Edmonton Oil Kings were involved in a pair of transactions Monday.

The Oil Kings sent defenceman Wyatt McLeod to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a conditional ninth round pick in the 2022 draft.

Edmonton also acquired defenceman Simon Kubicek and a conditional pick in 2023 for left winger Vladimir Alistrov and another conditional pick in 2023.

Kubicek, 19, had 27 points in 52 games last season in Seattle.

Alistrov, also 19, had 35 points in 57 games last season for the Oil Kings.