Back Again, For The First Time

I'm finally back on the ice after a nice rollercoaster ride for the past thirty-to-forty days, and it feels good to be back. I went from tearing my groin sixty-percent in my right leg, to weeks of recovery, to the waiver-wire following my rehab, and eventually re-signing with the team within forty-eight hours of being released from my contract. I'm not going to touch on the release/re-signing situation because that's not important, those things happen and it's part of the game, but I will touch on the injury, my recovery, and my first game at the Cajundome.

First, the injury. I thought it was a minor groin pull and initially I thought I was healthy enough to play through it. I felt like the thirty-day IR was too long (but it's the shortest IR term that our league allows), and that I would be able to skate with the comfortability that I had prior to the injury. I tried practicing after two weeks, and the pain was ridiculous. I couldn't move without a problem. Well, after more observation it was determined that I had torn my groin in my right leg, roughly sixty-percent of the way. I had to have injections (real pleasant...), do rehab/therapy, exercises, ultrasound, stim, ice, anti-inflammatories, pain-killers, the whole nine yards. It was a battle to say the least. The doctors affiliated with the organization did a great job of helping me to rehab quickly, and they really did help me. The team helped to order me some extra equipment to help me on the ice, and so far it all seems to be working. I don't feel very fast on the ice, but I can move and the pain is minimal. So it's all gravy.

Secondly, my first game at the Cajundome was a good personal experience, although I wish the outcome had been different. We lost to Fayetteville by a score of five-to-three (they added an empty-net goal to lock it up in the last minute of play), but our team played well. It was nice to finally be in the locker room, on the bench, and on the ice for a game, instead of watching from the stands. It's easier to coach the game from up top because you can see what everybody technically "should be doing." I say that because it is easier to coach the game from way up top when you can see the whole surface. It's not easier to coach the game, play the game, or get a pulse on the team from the stands. It's impossible. If you think that you can determine how the game is being coached, played, or how the team is "feeling" just by watching from the stands, then you are sadly mistaken. It's a different pace at ice-level, and when you're in the thick of things. I was pleasantly surprised with the way things played out during the game. I thought we were coached well, we played well with the exception of a few mistakes (small mistakes, but mistakes that are costing us big games), and the pulse of the team was pretty good overall. The team was upbeat, positive, and motivated. All good signs. Everything points to us moving in the right direction, and hopefully putting things together for a full sixty minutes.

Lastly, thanks for everybody who supported me during my difficult time. I appreciate all of the kind words and support. You are all great people. Hopefully we can start stringing together some wins for the fans, the organization, and ourselves. It's what everybody deserves.

One last thing, I want to throw out a quick note to my roommate and friend, Clay Lewis. Clay recently had knee surgery (Tuesday, December 14th), and discovered that his season is over. I know he's going through a tough time dealing with the reality of the situation, but I also know that he'll come back stronger than ever. Best wishes for a speedy recovery buddy, and we're all pulling for ya big guy!