Chicago Blackhawks cheer forward Marian Hossa’s first appearance since head injury-NHL News
It is all done for the Chicago Blackhawks as far as the current Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series is concerned, still they were happy to see forward, Marian Hossa, returning to the United Centre, on Monday, April 23, 2012.
Hossa was hit on the head by Phoenix Coyotes’ left wing, Raffi Torres, in Game 3 of the series and has not played a game or practised with his teammates since then.
He showed up with his teammates at the centre on Monday for the first time and the entire Blackhawks community was pleased to have him back even though his exact recovery time is not determined yet.
It might not be a point of concern now for the management given that Blackhawks have been eliminated from Stanley Cup final race, after they lost their last game, 0-4, to extend the overall lead to 2-4 in favour of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Blackhawks’ coach, Joel Quenneville, who has been made by the National Hockey league (NHL) to pay the fine of $10,000 for his criticism of officiating of the game over the Hossa hit, was particularly content to see him back to the facility.
He said:
"It was good to see him. I talked to him last night. I'm sure his teammates and him as well, are glad to get a chance to see [him]."
The coach has refrained from commenting anything about the player’s recovery. Hossa was treated at a local hospital initially and is now at his home nursing his injury.
It was not clear during the earlier phase whether he had suffered a head injury as the team speculated it to be just an upper body injury.
Only on Saturday, April 21, they confirmed that Hossa in fact had suffered a head injury, and recovery will probably require him a lengthy period.
Meanwhile, Torres, who was earlier suspended indefinitely, has been handed over 25 games’ ban following his in-person hearing with the league on Friday, April 20.
Some reports have hinted him considering an option of appealing against the tenure of the ban. However, the decision is not final yet.
Torres, in the meantime, has shown some remorse over the incident and wished Hossa an early recovery from the injury.
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