BOSTON — As a barrage of white flakes transformed Fenway Park into a Winter Wonderland Thursday morning, a grinning Patrice Bergeron grabbed a shovel and began clearing piles of snow off the ice.
Life, he thought to himself, doesn’t get better than this.
Just two years earlier, Bergeron was unable to shovel. Or skate. Or even get up off the couch and move to another room.
Crushed headfirst into the unforgiving TD Garden boards by Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Randy Jones on the fateful night of Oct. 27, 2007, an unconscious Bergeron was carted off on a stretcher. In the ensuing weeks, dealing with a severe concussion, Bergeron wondered if he’d ever have a normal life again, let alone a hockey career.
Now here he was, practising with his Boston Bruin teammates at historic Fenway in preparation for today’s Winter Classic against the Flyers, all the while still stoked at being picked for the Canadian Olympic team just 24 hours earlier.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to usher in the new year,” Bergeron said.
The Patrice Bergeron story is indeed a remarkable tale of perseverance, of guts, of determination, a comeback that has earned him admiration throughout the hockey world.
“Seeing him in that hospital bed after his injury and, then, seeing him just today when I was walking over (to Fenway), he has come full circle,” Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said.
“Obviously it’s a credit to him. He knows his body. He worked really hard coming back. The mental demons that he had to go through with those types of injuries, I can’t imagine what that was like.”
The type of demons that makes a man wonder if he can come all the way back.
“That was the lowest point,” Bergeron recalled. “I wasn’t even able to do regular everyday usual things. Just walking around was giving me headaches and making me dizzy. Just watching TV, I couldn’t even do that for a long time.
“Coming back took a long time. But at least I had the chance to do it. And I stayed positive through it.
“I’m proud of myself.”
So is the Flyers’ Simon Gagne.
About six years ago, Gagne and Bergeron started skating at the same Quebec City arena during the off-season.
“Before the injury, you could tell he was going to be good,” Gagne said. “He definitely was the best player every time he stepped on to the ice.
“The injury slowed him down just as he was coming into his prime but he seems to be there now.”
Team Canada head honcho Steve Yzerman obviously agreed, making a handful of scouting trips to watch Bergeron in person.
When Team Canada’s Kevin Lowe called Bergeron Wednesday with the news, the Bruins forward was on the ice for the morning skate.
“When I came off and listened to voice mail, I couldn’t believe it,” Bergeron said. “We had a game (against Atlanta) that night and, usually on game days, I have a nap the afternoon of game days. This time I didn’t get a wink.
“It’s such an honour.”
Having played on the same line as Sidney Crosby at the 2005 world junior championships, Bergeron could be reunited with Sid The Kid in Vancouver.
“If I do get that opportunity, Sidney is such a great player,” he said. “He’s great at developing chemistry with his linemates.”
That’s still six weeks down the road. For the time being, he’s still basking in the euphoria of the Winter Classic.
“Cleaning off the ice with a shovel was fun,” Bergeron chuckled. “It brought back some memories.
“When we first walked up the stairs with the snow coming down and you see Fenway Park in the background, it was amazing.”
Just like his comeback story.
mike.zeisberger@sunmedia.ca
