Marc Staal sheds trauma of brutal eye injury, 2 years later

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 01 April 2015 | 20.49

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Two years later, the frightening right eye injury to Marc Staal — when he was struck by Jakub Voracek's deflection of a Kimmo Timonen slap shot at the Garden on March 5, 2013, has no more impact on the defenseman's game than dust in the wind.

"I've gotten to the point where I don't think about it at all," the Rangers' alternate captain said before Tuesday's match against the Jets. "I thought when I was on the ice after last summer [2013], it was better, but it got even better after this summer and hopefully it will keep improving and I'll feel even better next year.

"My other eye is sharper. I feel great."

Staal is the Rangers' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Staal was first nominated in 2013 for the award, in memory of the late North Stars forward who died on Jan. 15, 1968 of a brain injury after his head struck the ice in a game following a check two days earlier.

"I've felt more comfortable," said Staal, who has worn a visor since suffering the injury. "That was encouraging and positive. It's gotten to the point where I don't even think about it on the ice. That was the hardest part to get over, just getting it out of my mind. I've gotten to that point. It's a nicer way to play and a lot easier to play that way.

"When I was first coming back and a puck hopped over my stick, I'd misread it [and think], 'What would I have done different if I had two healthy eyes?'" Staal said. "It took a while to get that out of my mind and just react and play.

"Now, it's an afterthought."

Staal skates off with a eye injury on March 5, 2013.Photo: Getty Images

Staal was sidelined for the final 27 games of the 48-game 2012-13 lockout season before missing 11 of the team's 12 playoff games. He had previously missed the opening 36 games of the 2011-12 season with post-concussion symptoms resulting from a high hit from his brother, Eric, in Carolina in late February of the previous season. He then missed 10 games last year because of a concussion he sustained in December on a shot to the head from the Devils' Reid Boucher.

This year, though, Staal is one of four Rangers — joining Dan Girardi, Dom Moore and Carl Hagelin — to have played every game. And he hasn't just played in every game, No. 18 has played at a consistently high level as the club's most physical and most dependable defenseman.

"I'm just fortunate that I'm here and playing," said the 28-year-old, who joined the Blueshirts at the start of the 2007-08 season and is third in seniority on the club behind Henrik Lundqvist and Girardi. "I take that kind of mind-set to the rink with me every day.

"I'm lucky to be a hockey player. I'm lucky to be with a good team. It's a long way back, but it was worth it. There have been some tough stretches coming back, not knowing if I was going to be able to play again.

"You come back and you're able to play and compete at a high level and you're able to stay in this league. That's what I wanted to do," added Staal, who signed a contract extension in January than runs through 2020-21. "Until someone tells you that you're not good enough or can't do it physically any more, you keep coming back and trying to play.

"It's what I am. I'm a hockey player."


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Marc Staal sheds trauma of brutal eye injury, 2 years later

Dengan url

http://makananrasaenak.blogspot.com/2015/04/marc-staal-sheds-trauma-of-brutal-eye.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Marc Staal sheds trauma of brutal eye injury, 2 years later

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Marc Staal sheds trauma of brutal eye injury, 2 years later

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger