(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Tragic Incident

‘Just a good-hearted kid’: Mintos reflect on Sopotyk’s serious snowboarding accident

Jan 25, 2021 | 3:15 PM

Former Prince Albert Mintos are reflecting on the snowboarding accident that has paralyzed Kyrell Sopotyk and the extraordinary public response to a fundraising campaign that is underway.

The 19-year-old spent two seasons with the Mintos of the SMAAAHL from 2016 to 2018 before joining the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 2018.

Don Fauchoux, who was manager of the Mintos during Sopotyk’s time on the team told paNOW he was shocked and saddened after hearing the news.

“Still hoping for the best though, you know there’s still a little bit of a window area where we could see some significant improvement hopefully,” he said. “But yeah, it’s just not good for such a great kid.”

Fauchoux said like most young players Sopotyk was shy when he first arrived on the team.

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“But then you get to know each other for a couple years that he was here and he’s just awesome and helpful,” he explained.

He added after the Humboldt Broncos tragic bus crash, the Mintos lost former player Jacob Leicht and had an injured player Layne Matechuk. The Mintos held an event for both and on Matechuk’s night Sopotyk was one of the players who came back to honour them.

“Just a good-hearted kid,” he said.

As of this afternoon the gofundme that was started to raise money for medical expenses and to help with possible renovations is over $100,000, the goal was set at $50,000.

“We definitely love them, we pray for them and we just hope for a great recovery, the best recovery we can have and he’s such a positive guy and positive people they’ll definitely move forward,” Fauchoux said.

Meanwhile former Mintos coach Ken Morrison said the situation is tragic and devastating news. Morrison added he is a great teammate, person, and player.

“All the people associated with the Mintos who knew him greatly admired him, had a lot of respect for him and love Kyrell,” Morrison said.

Morrison added the massive public support for the gofundme is because many people knew the family and the hockey community is very tight knit.

“When something like this happens everyone kind of steps up,” he said. “My family’s thoughts and prayers go out to Kyrell and his whole family and I’m sure I’ll be talking with them soon.”

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ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12