Companions in Courage
Chapter One
My Story
Injuries are part of a professional hockey player's life. I've had
several major injuries and many minor ones, but the one that changed
my life happened in October 1996 when I was playing with the Buffalo
Sabres. It was a major concussion that forced my family and me to
put hockey, life, and what really matters into sharper focus.
The game against the Pittsburgh Penguins had barely begun. Skating
across the middle of the ice, I was blind-sided by a forearm to the
head. This shot knocked me out immediately. I flew into the air,
lost my helmet, and hit my forehead on the ice. The player who hit
me was like a freight train-six foot six, 235 pounds. The only part
of my body he hit was my head, but I suffered a second blow when I
landed on it.
Here's what my wife, Marybeth, remembers: "The kids and I stayed
home that night to watch Pat play. Our six-year- old daughter,
Sarah, yelled out, 'Mom, come quick!' I ran to the door of the
family room and what I saw froze my heart with fear. Pat was lying
facedown on th ... read full excerpt from Companions in Courage: Triumphant Tales of Heroic Athletes ebook
