A 19-year-old hockey player was airlifted to a hospital following an injury sustained during a game in Walpole, Massachusetts, on Sunday. The incident occurred around noon at Cadillac Ice Arena, where the player collided with the rink’s boards during a tournament match.

Walpole Police Chief Rich Kelleher described the injury as an unfortunate accident that happened during the normal flow of play. Emergency responders were dispatched promptly and treated the player for what was described in dispatch communications as head trauma. A medical helicopter arrived around 12:30 p.m. to transport the individual to a medical facility. Authorities had not released additional information about the player’s condition as of Monday.

The injury occurred during the final game of a four-day tournament featuring teams from the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), a collegiate developmental league for players aged 16 to 20. The match was between Walpole’s Highway Express Hockey Club and the New Jersey Bears. According to social media reports, the Highway Express secured an 8-1 victory.

Efforts to reach team representatives for further comment were unsuccessful. Jason Kilcoyne, head coach for the New Jersey Bears, declined to comment on the situation, referencing player privacy concerns.

The tournament and participating teams are part of the EHL’s ongoing efforts to develop young talent within collegiate hockey ranks. The circumstances surrounding the injury remain under review.