Wojtek Wolski suffers broken neck crashing into boards in KHL game

Wojtek Wolski, a former first-round draft selection of the Colorado Avalanche, broke his neck sliding headfirst into the boards in a KHL game Thursday, the league announced.

Officially diagnosed with two broken cervical vertebrae, spinal cord trauma, and a concussion, the Magnitogorsk forward is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Related: Wojtek Wolski stretchered off KHL ice after dive into boards

Wolski remains in intensive care, but also in good spirits. He spoke with TSN's Gino Reda, who passed along this message from the 30-year-old:

"I never thought I'd say I got lucky breaking my neck. But it really could have been a lot worse. Staying positive, and hoping to make a quick recovery sometime late this season"

Wolski has spent the last four seasons in the KHL. He appeared in 27 games for the Washington Capitals in his last NHL action.