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A former pro-hockey player, Denna Laing has shown the world that hockey players really are some of the toughest people in the world. Not letting her injury keep her down, she impressed the world with her fierce attitude and even the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation took notice. Awarded the Dana Reeve Hope Award, Denna’s spirit is profound . Read on to see how she’s proving there’s always room for hope.
Why She’s Fearless
Denna’s fearless attitude has been a part of her personality ever since she was a little girl. Growing up in a hockey family, with her dad and sisters all playing hockey, she learned to skate towards her fears and to never back down from a challenge. Denna played hockey in high school at Nobles & Greenough School in Dedham, MA, where she graduated in 2011. After high school, she attended Princeton University and played on their women’s hockey team.
At Princeton, she was the Captain of the team during the last 2 years she played, and frequently managed to get hat-tricks. A forward with an aggressive edge, Denna was a player you knew you to not mess with. After college, she played for the C.W.H.L.’s Boston Blades in 2014, and then signed as a practice squad member for the Boston Pride in 2015, the team’s inaugural season.
When a few of the team players, who were also on the national team, had to leave for training, Denna was called up. This was when the team was invited to play in the Outdoor Women’s Classic on New Year’s Eve 2016; a historical game in that was the first outdoor women’s pro-hockey game sanctioned by the NHL. Unfortunately, this was also the game where Denna was injured. She broke her C4-6 vertebrae in a collision at the end of the second period.
Right away, Denna showed an impressive strength that inspired thousands following her around the globe. She went to Spalding Rehab for several months, and attended Journey Forward, an activity-based rehab center in Boston.
What’s Next?
Denna’s upbeat spirit also got the attention of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, who search for people for their annual Dana Reeve Hope Award. After reading an article on her tough attitude and tireless efforts in rehab written by NHL writer Amalie Benjamin, they selected Denna as their 2016 recipient. Denna also quickly became an advocate for people with spinal cord injuries.
Denna is also back in school, studying to become a lawyer. Pre-injury, she was working as a victim witness advocate for the district attorney’s office in Essex County while also applying/interviewing at various law schools. Denna is one tough lady. Still the same fighter she was since before her injury, we can’t wait to see the work she does after she becomes an attorney.
ideas@spinalpedia.com
