Bergeron: 'Very confident I'll play this year'
Patrice Bergeron, making his first public appearance since suffering a concussion on Dec. 20 against Carolina, spoke for approximately 15 minutes in the home dressing room at TD Banknorth Garden this morning.
"I'm very confident I'll play this year," said Bergeron. "It's a matter of when. That's why I don't want to put on a date on it and get disappointed like I was last year in the playoffs. I've learned from that. So yes, I do think I'll be back."
Bergeron, wearing a sweatshirt and a Bruins hat, said he is free of headaches. For the last week, he has been working out on a stationary bike or elliptical trainer without symptoms. Most recently, he has been riding the bike for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, elevating his heart rate to between 145 and 150 beats per minute. Bergeron didn't put a timetable on when he'd be able to start skating.
* Bergeron was told by Dr. Robert Cantu that he suffered a concussion because he took a blow to the jaw when he checked Carolina's Dennis Seidenberg. "Especially after talking to the doctor, with that type of hit right on the jaw, it has nothing to do with last year's hit," said Bergeron, who wears a mouthpiece and a specially designed Reebok helmet. "He said it would have happened to almost anyone."
* Perhaps the toughest thing for Bergeron was the first week at home after the hit. Bergeron's symptoms included headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. But more draining was the mental strain of going through another concussion. "I've worked so hard to get back," Bergeron said. "I was starting to feel a lot better about my game. Then that hit happened. To go down again with a concussion is really frustrating. But it was the first week I was thinking about that. I was down and a little negative. Now that I've improved, I'm not thinking about that. I'm looking forward."
* While Bergeron emphasized that his latest concussion is not related to his first one, he noted that last year's recovery and rehab will be a good reference going forward. "The biggest thing I learned from last year is to take it day by day," Bergeron said. "Don't look too far ahead. If I do, I might get disappointed. If I say I'm going to skate in two weeks or one week and I don't, then I'm going to be disappointed. I want to take it day by day, follow the orders from the doctors, and try to improve. But also rest and don't try to do too much when you do feel better, because it can set you back."
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Best to Patrice. Take your time and come back at 100%.
No headaches and he's exercising. Great news, and thank you, Fluto, for posting so quickly. Please relay to Patrice Bruins fans' best wishes.
Great news. No more headaches is awesome. Speedy recovery Patrice!
Great news, not so good about Sturm.
Bergy sounds like he will be back in couple of weeks maximum.
As for Sturm, I didnt expect it to be so serious.
Shanny would be perfect replacement.
and 3.5 million for half a season is fair for a chance to win a Stanley
Regular mouth guards focus on teeth, they have no procedure to correct cartilage or corrective position prior to making the mouth guard. Research shows only a procedure proven with the NFL Patriots, which protects from this specific type of blow to the jaw concussion is effective. Six other NHL franchises including the Carolina Hurricanes team dentist and President of the NHL dental association who is treating patients with this procedure. Its inventor will be present at the NHL dental meetings to discuss and train the league in this innovation this May. All players need to protect their future health and contracts with this new science. www.mahercor.com
there's no way shanahan will come here for 3rd line minutes.
Steve (#5), You are making total sense except the second line is not clear. What is the procedure? It sounds like a different kind of mouthguard. Anywho, Patrice Bergeron is missed in this lineup. The team lines are not in sync. He anticipates the plays so well at a young age. With his play, the Bruins will advance in the playoffs IMO. So, get well Patrice. My daughter who has tickets for January 22 is anxious to see you play.
It's great Patrice will be back but we don't know when and at what capacity. Hope for the best, but he has the potential to have his career derailed like Lindros did with similar concussions. Because of that and Marco being out, we need to move on a veteran for the long haul. It's not clear the kids will hold up over the full year and a playoff run. Look what Aaron Ward brings to the D. Get well so Patrice and Marco!
Patrice was not yet back to his full form in my opinion but like he said, that particular game he went down was perhaps the best he'd skated since his injury last year. He just hasn't been as electric as in the past and his amazing instincts had not been unleashed again. He seemed to be skating with his head down and concerned only with skating hard and not letting his play-making, stick handling and space recognition abilities take over. I'm sure confidence and conditioning were/are still being re-built.
Him not anticipating and bracing for contact that he was initiating was really strange. Confidence in his skating instincts and less focus on the puck and more on space hopefully will get him back to form. He's my favorite player since Neely, and Orr before him. Good luck to him and the exciting Bruins.
Very difficult to convince me they are not related. I certainly wish him all the best and hope he gets back soon.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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