NORWOOD, Mass. -- Norwood High School, stunned over the serious, back-to-back injuries of two of its hockey players in the last week, has postponed its next game while the school community tries to deal with the shocks.

Sophomore Matt Brown, a varsity player, was hurt last Saturday when he was hit by another player and crashed into the boards while racing after the puck in a game against Weymouth in Hingham.

Brown, in intensive care at Children's Hospital, was expected to undergo surgery to fuse together his fourth and fifth vertebrae his coach, Bill Clifford said.

"We're happy to report that he came through with flying colors. This now allows Matt to start his long rehabilitation journey. He will continue to need your prayers and support over the weeks and months ahead,' read the message Brown's family posted on the Web site www.carepages.com.

Wednesday night, a second Norwood player, senior defenseman Chris O'Brien, suffered a severe concussion when he crashed head first into the boards. He was back home Friday and was expected to make a full recovery, but his collision, which left him unconscious on the ice, stunned the crowd and left the team's players "numb."

Athletic director Brian McDonough said the boys are drawing strength from each other, but with five games left in the season, the Mustang's match scheduled for next has been postponed.

Meanwhile, hockey safety experts are reminding players of the motto, "Don't duck, heads up," and injured former Boston University player Travis Roy weighed in, reminding players about safety.

"I think of Matt and his parents and the people who are close to him and it's such a loss for everybody," Roy said.

Roy, who was paralyzed after his accident, has been vocal about head and spinal cord injury prevention.

Dr. Alan Ashare, Roy's longtime friend and safety educator, explained the danger of hitting with the head down.

"Hitting the boards does not hurt the head. You got a helmet on. But the body continues to move and actually crushes the spine," Ashare said.

Meanwhile, Brown's mother told Norwood High's principal that the family is optimistic.

"She indicated that the doctors felt very good about the surgery. Now, what that means in the long term, we don't know," George Usevich said.