WHL player in critical condition after wreck

REGINA – Players on the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors held vigil Sunday for the recovery of forward Garrett Robinson, who was left in critical condition after a devastating car crash.

Robinson, 18, and two other players were hurt after their car collided with a pickup truck in Moose Jaw, Sask.

”(The doctors) have informed us that it is critical, that he has trauma to the head and brain,” general manager Chad Lang told reporters.

“The next 48 to 72 hours will be a critical time,” said Lang.

Robinson, a native of Surrey, B.C., underwent surgery at a Regina hospital. His parents flew to Regina from Vancouver to be at their son’s bedside.

Lang, who spoke on behalf of the family, said there was swelling on the brain.

The crash happened Sunday morning as the teammates were driving home from the rink after an Alberta road trip.

The players had just unloaded the team bus and were heading back to their billets when the car was hit, said Lang. Robinson was a passenger in the vehicle.

“They were struck on the passenger side by the Ford truck and he basically absorbed the majority of the blow,” he said.

The jaws of life were used to free the players from the mangled wreckage.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash, but police said alcohol was believed to be a factor and that charges were pending against the driver of the truck.

Lang insisted that the players were not involved with alcohol.

Also injured were Joey Perricone, a 19-year-old goalie from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and 18-year-old forward Carter Smith of Eyebrow, Sask. Both were treated for minor injuries and released.

Robinson, a third-year left-winger, recorded two assists in 57 games last season. He had already matched that total in eight games this year.