QV Hockey Goalie Recovers from Crash Injuries

Dan Gittins was picking up his twin daughters to take them to a swing dance he organized at Duquesne University, where he works, on the day a car hit his 18-year-old son, Zach.

Zach, who works at Vocelli’s Pizza in Sewickley, told  his family that he was heading out to walk to work.

“I happened to be on my porch. We live right down the road,” Dan Gittins said. 

As the starting goalie for Quaker Valley's high school varsity hockey team, Gittins is used to stopping slap shots. Dressed in his work uniform, though, his body was no match against a metal machine.

Dan Gittins didn't see the Toyota hit his son -- a small miracle for which he’s grateful. He did hear his 14-year-old daughters scream before they sprinted to their brother. Dan Gittins felt his legs move as he followed them.

“I don’t necessarily sprint. It was running for me.”

His son is lucky to be alive, he said. Witnesses said Zach Gittins was in the crosswalk and had nearly reached the other side of the road Feb. 18 when the car drive by Jessica Kaye, 21, of turned from Walnut Street and struck him, knocking him into the air. Zach crawled to a grassy area on the side of the busy highway.

Dan Gittins was thankful to see his son was conscious and able to move his fingers and toes.

Zach looked up at his father and said, “Dad, I just got hit by a car.”

“Luckily, he didn’t have spinal injuries,” the elder Gittins said

Zach Gittins spent the night in Allegheny General Hospital in a neck brace and was released the following day, his father said. Police cited Kaye with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Though still very sore and stiff, he’s been able to return to work to his position as assistant manager. He is still undergoing medical testing, diagnostic tests and treatments for his neck, back and a concussion. The injuries are affecting his ability to complete classwork. Zach can’t take academic tests or spend any time of significance on the computer or related media.  He’ll probably have to drop the class he takes at CCAC this semester, his father said.

But for Zach, probably the most difficult result of the crash was being forced to sit out the last two games of his hockey regular season. The outlook that he’ll return for the upcoming PIHL playoffs doesn’t look probable. Doctor input is a critical element in returning to the ice, so more testing is needed to lift his injury status.

“It would only be by some extreme chance, short of a miracle, that he will be able to play in the playoff game,” Dan Gittins said.

Zach is the team’s goalie and one of only two seniors on its roster. His absence is felt.

“It’s affected the team, the playoffs, and it’s affected him personally,” Dan Gittins said.

Zach did not dress or play Feb. 28 for “Senior Night,” a game night set side for recognizing seniors in the Quaker Valley program. He attended the game, his father said, but he couldn’t suit up and “do the senior thing,” or pose for photos in his uniform, he said.

“It’s been tough,” Dan Gittins said. “He’s the goalie. It’s very upsetting.”

Quaker Valley hockey Coach Kevin Quinn said the team misses Zach.

“We obviously miss Zach very much and were disappointed for him that he could not play and did not get to play on Senior Night.  He has overcome so much during his high school career and played extremely well for us all year.  It really is tough to play without him. “

Quinn said Zach missed the final two games of the regular season at a time when the team's other goalie, sophomore Jonathan Pijar, also has been sidelined by an injury.  One of the team’s forwards, junior Luke O'Neil, is filling in for them at the critical position.

The team plays Westmont Hilltop at 7 p.m. today at the Cambria County War Memorial rink in Johnstown, PA. The game is the quarterfinal round of the playoffs leading to a berth in the Penguins Cup championship game.

“Our other goalie is also hurt so ... it has been a stressful time at Quaker Valley hockey," Quinn said.  "We overcame the adversity and won both games, a real testament to the kind of kids we have at Quaker Valley Hockey."

But Quinn said the Gittins family is going through a "very difficult time," and Zach's recovery is what’s foremost on everyone’s minds.

“Zach is very lucky to be alive. We are all more concerned with his overall health than we are having him play hockey again for Quaker Valley,” Quinn said.

Zach started playing hockey in fifth grade. He played with the Arctic Foxes amateur team, where he earned a team MVP honor, and with Quaker Valley's freshmen team. He went on to play varsity as a backup goalie, then as a starter.

He also has played baseball and one year of lacrosse, but now that he’s off the ice Zach puts in a lot of time at work. He’s been working at Vocelli’s for more than two years.

Zach said he wants to go to college and has recently been considering an ROTC adventure with the Marines. He did not speak with Patch about his accident on the advice of an attorney.

Zach’s dad, however, said he is grateful for many reasons. He said his son will be able to hit the ice again someday -- when he heals.

“While first and foremost we are thankful that he is able to walk and was not more seriously hurt, it is not without physical and emotional costs,” Dan Gittins said. “Tough situation all the way around — as I am sure it is for the young lady who hit him.”