Fundraiser exceeds $28,000 for Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth player injured in Texas

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. — An 18-year-old Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth player and coach is recovering after suffering a grade 5 kidney laceration during a hockey tournament in Texas on Dec. 13.

Branden McNally was competing in the Silver Stick Tournament in Dallas when he was hit during the first shift of the third period. He said the hit was clean but left him immediately aware that something was wrong.

“I went to the bench. I was yakking,” McNally said in an interview. “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t think I would shatter my kidney.”

McNally initially went to an urgent care facility but was transferred to an emergency room as his pain intensified. He said the pain felt like being stabbed.

“At that point, I couldn’t walk anymore,” McNally said. “They were trying to run some tests and I would stand up and I’d just pass out.”

McNally underwent surgery to stop bleeding from one of three major arteries in his kidney. He was hospitalized in Texas for five days before flying home Thursday.

“I was urinating blood, like just straight blood for like three days,” he said. He added that walking remains extremely difficult.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth organization established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover McNally’s medical expenses. As of Dec. 20, the campaign has raised $28,306, with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as the top donor at $1,000.

According to the fundraiser page, McNally does not have personal health insurance. While his USA Hockey membership provides accident coverage, it requires a $3,500 deductible paid upfront.

McNally has been involved with the Phantoms Youth organization since age 12. In addition to playing on the U18AA team in his final season of youth hockey, he has devoted countless hours to developing younger players.

He serves as an assistant coach for the U11AA squad and volunteered with the U8 program for four years. He also spearheaded the organization’s U8 Development Summer Camp, helping introduce new players to the sport.

The fundraiser page describes McNally as “a constant, helpful, and positive presence at the Steel Ice Center.”

“I love coaching and I love helping out the kids,” McNally said.

Despite the injury cutting short his final youth hockey season, McNally said he plans to continue coaching.

“I would just like to thank everyone — Phantoms Youth, AHL Phantoms, everyone in general for being by my side,” he said.