The career of St. Lawrence defenseman Allie Skelley was possibly ended Dec. 13 in a game against Lake Superior after a hit from behind resulted in a compression fracture of two vertebrae.
Skelley, a native of Wolfeboro, N.H., underwent successful surgery in Burlington, Vt. on Saturday, and is expected to make a full recovery. Doctors, however, are not sure if that means he can ever resume his hockey career.
“The doctors were very pleased with the results of the surgery, and we are hoping for a swift and complete recovery for Allie,” said St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh. “Obviously he is finished playing hockey for this season, but we fully expect that he will be back in school in the second semester and finish his course work on time.”
The hit, from LSSU’s Jeremy Bachusz, resulted in a five-minute major penalty. No further discipline was deemed warranted.
A junior, Skelley, 23, had played in all 16 St. Lawrence games to that point, registering no assists or goals. In 75 career games, Skelley has two goals and 12 points.
