“I’ve learned a few lessons along the way and this was a big one. As much as maybe I didn’t think I was taking things for granted back then, you learn to cherish it a bit more when it’s almost taken away from you. It makes you a bit stronger, knowing you can go through those things and make it.”
went well and what I could expect if it didn’t go well. With that in mind, that’s what I chose.
What was the recovery process like? Injury-wise it was tough, but it’s hard when you’re not part of a team either. That’s a dif- ferent story. When you have someone telling you where to show up and what to do, you’re just kind of going with the flow. In my situation, I had to take everything upon myself and seek people out and kind of not take no for an answer.
Was there a low point? There were a few times where it was a possibility I might not play again. But it’s just one of those things where you work your hardest and you keep pushing. In doing that, I kept seeing improvement and kept at it. I was in bed for a month after the surgery and that wasn’t fun. It was a lot of pain and it was hard to focus. That was tough.
How was the reception from the guys when you came here? It was great. I knew a few guys from here and there, and I have buddies that know some guys here. It’s pretty simple. It’s a different kind of system, different things to get used to, different coaches, but it was a pretty easy fit. For the most part, hockey’s hockey.
Did you feel any rust? It was a gradual thing. I remember the first time I played an NHL game and that was crazy. This time it just felt weird not being on the ice, so I was excited to be there. But at the same time, I wasn’t satisfied with just playing the game again. I’m taking things in short bursts, as they come. It’s a long-term plan that I have and when I said I was ready to play and wanted to sign with a team, there were no doubts I was ready to play.
Has going through this given you a different perspective? I’ve learned a few lessons along the way and this was a big one. As much as maybe I did- n’t think I was taking things for granted back then, you learn to cherish it a bit more when it’s almost taken away from you. In going through the different things I did the past year, it makes you a bit stronger, knowing you can go through those things and make it. #
24 Ducks Digest
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