Denver senior forward Jesse Martin was in stable condition at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis Sunday night after suffering three fractures in the C-2 vertebra in his neck Saturday at North Dakota.
Aaron Leu, Denver’s associate director of sports medicine, confirmed that information via a school news release Sunday. The release categorized it as a season-ending injury.
Martin has feeling in all of his extremities and will undergo further testing through Monday to determine whether surgery is necessary, the school said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jesse and the entire Martin family during this most-difficult time,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said in the news release. “Jesse is one of our team leaders and most-respected players in the locker room. Our players are determined to rally around him and assist in any way possible during the healing process.”
Martin was injured in the second period of a 3-0 victory Saturday at North Dakota. He was hit by the Sioux’s Brad Malone, who received a major charging penalty and a game misconduct.
Martin was taken from the ice on a stretcher and sent to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. He was later airlifted to Minneapolis.
A center, Martin has 64 points — 32 goals, 32 assists — in 120 career games.
