For the second time in a year, an Olds College Broncos men's soccer player has suffered a spinal injury -- this time in his hometown debut.
Mike Price was injured Sept. 13 during a game at Normie Kwong Park against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.
It wasn't the homecoming people were looking for.
This latest injury occurred at 21:12 of the first half.
Price, a fullback, was on a rush to the Medicine Hat net but collided hard with Rattlers goalkeeper John Walker, who was charging out of the crease to play the ball.
Price lay on the field for several minutes. An ambulance was called.
According to the official scoresheet, Price suffered a spinal injury.
Broncos head coach Macky Singh said the sports management student was taken to a hospital in Calgary.
About six months ago, Price broke some vertebrae while playing soccer, he added.
After that earlier injury, Price recovered and later saw playing time in exhibition games Singh said, adding that the fullback had recently started training again after physiotherapy.
Singh said he had hoped Price's attitude would be an example for soccer players in the area to follow.
“He's a good lad. He's willing to learn and improve. Like all these players, they've got a lot to learn,” he said.
“It's a different level of football that they're playing right now and I think someone like Mike would be a good inspiration for all the other players in the community coming up to say, hey, they have an opportunity to play at the college level, play for the Broncos.”
The Broncos lost 5-0.
