NOVI, Mich. – Players, coaches and former members of the Detroit Red Wings gathered Wednesday evening to raise funds to pay the rising medical bills of a high school hockey player left paralyzed from an accident during a game.
Matt Sorisho, a senior at Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi, fell back-first into the boards, fracturing his spinal cord. He is paralyzed from the waist down. The medical expenses, home modifications and mobility equipment his family needs will cost more than $500,000 in the first year.
On Wednesday night, current members of the Red Wings, including Danny DeKeyser, Jimmy Howard, Mikael Samuelsson and Stephen Weiss joined with head coach Mike Babcock and Red Wings alumni Kris Draper, Chris Osgood, Kirk Maltby and Ted Lindsay and Matt's teammates for a fundraising event at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
Money was raised with a vast array of special items donated by the Red Wings and others.
Many restaurants donated food and services for a strolling dinner. Dennis Kranak, of the Toasted Oak Grille, said he was willing to do anything to help out.
"It really brings a tear to my eye just to see him. I can't really talk about that aspect. It's such an amazing difference when you have children and to see a tragedy happen. It just really brings it home. So anything we can really do," Kranak said
Wednesday's event was the latest in a series of fund-raising projects to help Matt Sorisho and his family.