Local hockey player dies after injuries from hit and run

Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.

Before their game tonight, a local semi-pro hockey team will retire the number of a 27-year-old player who died Wednesday from injuries suffered when he was run over by an alleged drunken driver.

Xtreme hockey player Justin Dale Kolisnek was helping a friend push his car, which had run out of gas about 4 a.m. on Jan. 10 on North Rancho Drive near the Texas Station casino, Metro Police Det. Doug Nutter said.

They were pushing the car in the left lane of the road and both doors were open, Nutter said. Two cars passed them, but managed to avoid hitting them.

But a car driven by Michael Hickey, 29, of Las Vegas crashed into Kolisnek, slamming him into the open door. Kolisnek suffered severe head trauma and injury to his right leg. He was admitted to University Medical Center in critical condition, and his right leg was amputated below the knee, according to Ross C. Goodman, a lawyer hired by Kolisnek's family.

Police arrested Hickey for felony driving under the influence, Nutter said. The district attorney's office could also add a manslaughter charge soon, he said.

Kolisnek remained in critical condition for five days. His Royals team members visited him at the hospital in their spare time, Mitchell said.

"One of the players said the other night, 'We better not lose a game or we'll get our butt kicked'(by Kolisnek)," Mitchell said.

Kolisneck died Wednesday.

"He was a tough guy who would put a smile on your face," said 14-year NHL hockey player Randy Burridge who plays with the Las Vegas Royals for fun.

The Royals are 10-0 this season, team president Trip Mitchell said, thanks to Kolisnek.

"He was the most talented member of our team," Mitchell said.

Prior to the 7 p.m. hockey game tonight at the Santa Fe Station, the team will retire Kolisnek's number, 16, as a memorial, Mitchell said.

Family and friends described an adventurous, outgoing man whose son Drayton Dale Kolisnek will be 1 year old on Tuesday.

"He was a wonderful, wonderful father," Laura Gorski, Kolisnek's wife, said.

She had met Kolisnek during a vacation in Mexico five years ago. The couple had moved to Las Vegas from Philadelphia. Laura, an osteopathic doctor, got a job as a perinatologist at the Center for Fetal Medicine. Kolisnek, being a Canada native, decided to try out for the Las Vegas Royals hockey team and made the team.

Steve Gorski, Laura's brother, said the other passion in Justin's life was helicopters. Kolisnek was taking advanced courses to become a helicopter pilot instructor with Silver State Helicopter in North Las Vegas.

Silver State plans to fly over the memorial service on Saturday and drop flowers, Steve Gorski said. Visitation is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary on Cheyenne Avenue.

A memorial trust has been set up for Kolisnek's son through the Bank of America. Donations may be made to account No. 004965939092.

In addition to his wife and son, Kolisnek's survivors include mother Loreen J. Kolisnek, father Edward D. Kolisnek and brother Warren C. Kolisnek, all of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.