Former Rochester Grizzlies Hockey Player Suffers Serious Head Injury Overseas

A former Rochester Grizzlies hockey player is recovering in a hospital overseas after suffering a serious head injury during a game in Poland, prompting an outpouring of support from the local and international hockey community.

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Gavin Black, who is no stranger to Rochester’s hockey scene, was injured Saturday, Dec. 13, while playing in Poland. According to family and friends, Black suffered a severe concussion, a skull fracture, and internal bleeding after hitting his head on the ice during what was described as a freak accident late in the game.

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Family Shares Updates as Former Rochester Hockey Player Recovers in Poland

Gavin’s parents said he was immediately taken by ambulance to a hospital, where doctors discovered a brain hematoma and began closely monitoring him with frequent scans. Early on, Black was conscious but unable to speak or communicate clearly.

“Tough to be a parent 5,000 miles away from a hurting son,” Gavin’s dad, Marcel Black, wrote in a social media update shortly after the injury.

Both of Gavin’s parents, Marcel and Marissa, rushed to Poland on extremely short notice to be by his side, facing steep travel costs and the uncertainty of navigating medical care in a foreign country. Language barriers and different medical systems have added to the stress, though the family says they have been receiving guidance and support from Mayo Clinic providers back in Rochester.

Marcel posted an update on Thursday from Kraków, Poland, sharing that Gavin has made meaningful progress since they arrived. Doctors have not seen additional damage from the skull fracture, and Gavin has begun walking, eating lightly, and staying hydrated. While his pain remains concentrated “from the neck up,” his father described his overall physical recovery as encouraging.

Despite the progress, the emotional toll has been heavy. Gavin has spent days in a shared hospital ward where he cannot communicate with other patients and has been separated from his sister, friends, and teammates. According to his family, he has already expressed how much he misses the rink and is disappointed to miss the Mayo High School alumni game on Christmas Eve.

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The family now expects to remain in Poland through Christmas while Gavin continues to recover. They plan to do what they can to make the holiday special under difficult circumstances, knowing they won’t be home as planned.

GoFundMe Launched to Help Former Rochester Grizzlies Player Recover

Financial strain has quickly become another challenge. Between medical expenses, last-minute international flights, extended lodging, and the logistics of safely transporting Gavin home when he’s cleared to travel, costs are mounting. The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $32,000 and is helping cover necessities like wheelchair assistance during travel and increasingly expensive return flights during the holiday season.

The response has been overwhelming.

“All I can say is WOW!!” Marcel Black wrote, thanking donors for easing the stress during an already emotional time.

Support has also poured in from the global hockey community. Teams, coaches, referees, and players from around the world have reached out, including a Polish team that created a large banner featuring Gavin’s photo and a get-well message ahead of an upcoming game against Gavin's team.

Anyone who would like to support Gavin Black and his family can do so via the GoFundMe page here.