Long Island hockey player Connor Dubeau walking again after near-death incident
Senior at Smithtown West returns to school and the rink after breaking his neck off Gilgo Beach as teammates and the hockey community rally around him.
Connor Dubeau, a 17-year-old senior at Smithtown West who plays hockey, is walking again after an off-ice incident at Gilgo Beach that nearly claimed his life. He slipped and fell into the waters off Gilgo Beach, breaking the C-4 vertebra and rendering him briefly paralyzed while submerged. Close friend and junior Islanders teammate Kevin Bonino, a senior who also plays for Chaminade High School, quickly sprang into action at the beach. He pulled his buddy above water before running out of oxygen, with the help of another young man, Jake Geller.
Connor’s recovery has drawn attention from across Long Island’s hockey community. The family said he was able to walk out of the hospital almost two-and-a-half weeks later after neck surgery, and that his recovery went exceptionally well because of the peak condition he had stayed in for hockey. “There were several big miracles,” Mark Dubeau, Connor’s father, told The Post. “Connor was able to walk out of the hospital almost two-and-a-half weeks later.” He added that the neck surgery and recovery went exceptionally well because of the peak condition he stayed in for hockey. “It’s incredible… it’s really good for him to actually be back at school.” And, throughout the ordeal, Connor was shown an overwhelming amount of love. Bonino, whom Mark described as “a great, great hockey player, a great teammate,” wouldn’t leave Connor’s side in the hospital, saying there’s “a special bond between those two guys.”
“Kevin coming to see Connor all the time even became therapeutic for me,” said Mark. The hockey community’s support extended beyond family and friends. Fellow Long Islander and Boston Bruins draft pick James Hagens called Connor during his recovery; Islanders captain Anders Lee was texting him, while team alumnus Matt Martin and Josh Bailey also reached out. “Connor’s favorite player, P.K. Subban, ended up sending him a personal text message with a video and posted about him on social media,” Mark said. “Then, to top it off, two weekends ago, Mr. Bobby Orr called Connor. The hockey community has just been awesome.”
All of that pales in comparison to the greatest gift for the Dubeau family: a happy and healthy son. “Connor has been going to hockey practice at least two times a week just to see his friends in the locker room,” added his father. Connor is back for his senior year and is part of the team’s renewed, hopeful path after the scare.
