100 Mile House Wranglers defenceman Brevin Gervais is in the hospital after suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm on Jan. 26.
The 17-year-old had returned from practice that night when he complained of a headache. Shortly after, he lost consciousness and was immediately taken to the hospital.
Gervais spent nine hours in surgery at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops on Jan. 27 and is now in recovery.
Gervais' coach, Dale Hladun, says the surgery went outstandingly.
"The surgery was really serious but he's a pretty strong kid. The way he's coming out of the surgery has a lot of people happy.
"He's got a long way to go but there's a lot of good news coming as he battles out of that surgery."
While Gervais has not yet regained consciousness as of Jan. 30, he is breathing on his own and has responded through squeezing a hand.
Doctors say the aneurysm was a pre-existing condition and was unrelated to hockey.
An aneurysm is a bulge or a weakening in a blood vessel in the brain. Often they can exist undetected for years without causing any medical issues. If the weak spot ruptures, it can cause severe bleeding into the brain.
Hladun says hockey programs around Western Canada and the United States have reached out to him and the team.
"The hockey world is a small world and everybody understands when something happens to someone in the dressing room, how much it affects you. So many teams understand what these poor boys are going through."
At the Wranglers home game on Jan. 28, spectators were asked to send their thoughts and prayers to Gervais and to hold three fingers over their heart in honour of Gervais' number three jersey during the national anthem.
Official Wranglers message:
On January 26, Brevin Gervais, defenseman 100 Mile House Wranglers, was admitted to 100 Mile House Hospital. He was then moved by a team of professionals to Kamloops where it was determined that Brevin was suffering from a brain hemorrhage. In short order he was in the operating room and went through a lengthy neurosurgery. Needless to say brain trauma must be treated carefully and with certain protocol.
We are excited to announce that day five of recovery, while heavily sedated, Brevin is opening his eyes during his wake times and recognized a statement from a caregiver for which he returned a thumbs up. Much more recovery to follow and a full statement will follow in time.
The Wranglers organization, Wrangler Nation and all of the hockey community wish Brevin a complete recovery and send best wishes and prayers to the entire Gervais family
Tom Bachynski