The Antigo Red Robins are playing not just for themselves, but for a former teammate who was recently injured in a car accident. 2011 graduate Zane Waldvogel was critically injured in a one-car accident on Monday night just outside of Antigo. He sustained multiple serious injuries including breaking several vertebrae in his neck. On Friday morning doctors will be attempting to reassemble and fuse the vertebrae in a rare and very delicate operation.
The team stayed on the ice after after Thrusday night's dramatic 2-1 win over Lakeland, and gathered at center ice. Long-time teammate Scott Suick and other 2011 grads lit candles arranged to read "34", and most of the Antigo fans also lit candles in the stands.
A moment of silence and prayer after Thursday's game
Freshman Brett Kloes never got to play with Zane, but has known him most of his life. Waldvogel was a teammate of Brett's sister Nikki all through the youth ranks, and as freshman for the Red Robins.
When Nikki and Zane were Peewees their coach would let Brett skate with them at practices, and Zane became like a big brother to the younger Kloes. "Zane taught me that you never quit", said Brett. " He had a good attitude about everything and was always very nice to me. He always took the time to say Hi. And before our State Tournament, he taught me how to take one-timers."
"I saw Zane get tackled in a game once, and as he was laying on the ice, he stuck his arm up in the air as if he could call the penalty."
Kloes says he will continue to wear the number 34 until Waldvogel "wakes up". He has been kept in a drug-induced coma since the accident to avoid movement of his head and neck.
Zane Walvogel Caring Bridge page
Welcome to the CaringBridge website. We've created it to keep friends and family updated about Zane's progress and recovery. Please visit often to read the latest journal entries, visit the photo gallery, and write Zane a note of encouragement in his guestbook.
Read the Antigo Daily Journal coverage
After a victory over Lakeland Thursday evening, the Antigo High School hockey team gathered for a quiet vigil in the center of the multi-purpose building ice to pray for Zane Waldvogel, who was injured in a Monday night traffic accident. Click Title to go to the rest of the story.
updates from Waldvogel family via Kathy Kloes
Friday Morning - Zane Update: Zane went into surgical area an hour later than anticipated.....surgery actually began at 12:20 & was expected to be 6 hours........Zane's family appreciates all the kind words, prayers, & support
Friday Evening - ZANE Update: He is all opened up plates in. Rods in....no issues...everything going. Perfect....nurse tells zanes aunt who is a surge tech....."there must be a lot of people praying cuz everyything is falling perfectly into place..rock solid"
Late Friday Night - ZANE UPDATE: Zane's family is going in to see him now.......surgery went well. Thank you for all the prayers.
Saturday Morning - ZANE UPDATE: **This was posted by Zane's mom (Kim) late last night***
IT went very well. We are all emotionally drained and happy for this major hurdle to be over. We have many many more, and some trying days ahead, but we will get through this. Thank you all so very much for all of your support, love, and prayers. Zane is a lucky guy to have all of this from all of you. Humbled. I am so excited for him to learn of all of this. We are exhausted. Please understand that tomorrow will be another day full of questions and worried moments. Zane will be accepting company hopefully in the near future, but please give us a couple days to be together as a family and explore where we will go from here. We will let you know when he is up to accepting visitors. The main thing now is gaining strength and praying he can dodge the pneumonia they say is likely... I will try to log on when I can, tho it may not be as much.... I will be quite busy ;)
Thank you just doesn't seem to quite do it.
Monday Morning - ZANE UPDATE: *****From Kim Waldvogel***
Desi got an eye opening and thinks he heard her.... Everybody just hang tight We know you all want to come... and we appreciate more than you know... Remember.. He is in I C U... He cant have many visitors in there... When he gets his own room you guys can bring the band and play Eric Church... But for now.. If I have time.... I'm gonna try to open a caring bridge thing so that we can do this somewhere other than f.b...... So... We're positive... We're hopeful... and we're praying like hell......
