KRAKOW, Poland — Hockey buddies reported that former Rochester Grizzzlies player Gavin Black is improving day-day-by from head injuries on the ice. The accident was eight days ao at Opole University, where Black plays on the varsity team. Doctors have decided he doesn’t require bran surgery. Friends said he has been able to hold short conversations with his parents. He has also been able to get up and walk short distances and sit jna chair outside his ward. He isn’t lack lacking the ability to find words although isn’t up to talking much, friends said.
Black profile
Black, age 21, is a freshman at Opole University in Poland. Along with fellow Rochester player Kaden Spaniol, he was recruited for the university’s new hockey team. This is a university with a 17,000 enrollment. The city of Opole has 170,000 people. In high school in Rochester, Black,was a two-way defenseman at John Marshall, then two seasons at Mayo. He finished high school with 11 goals and 21 assists. In his senior year at Mayo went 19-6-2 overall He played two years of junior hockey in the North American 3 Hockey League. He had four goals and 23 points in 52 games for the Gillette Wild in Wyoming. The next season he returned home to play for the Rochester Grizzlies. The team advanced to the Central Division finals. He finished the season with seven goals and 26 points in 51 games.
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Black. Initial prognosis was worrisome: Severe concussion, skull fracture, internal bleeding. Still doubtful, however, whether he’ll return to ice this season.
Teammates with video encouragement. From ice at Opole University. The team is comprised of 15 Americans, seven Canadians, one Hungarian and one Indonesian.