Chiefs’ Bertsch Decides To Call It Quits Veteran Player Retires Rather Than Risk Serious Head Injury
Jay Bertsch, veteran right wing and alternate captain of the Spokane Chiefs, retired Thursday on the advice of his doctors.
Bertsch, 20, suffers from trauma-induced migraines that had progressed to where there was a possibility of significant damage if he continued to play, Chiefs athletic therapist T.D. Forss said.
Bertsch, from Lethbridge, Alberta, told Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz that he was interested in getting on with his education.
“When you’ve done something your whole life and suddenly you’re not able to do it anymore, it’s tough,” Bertsch said. “It’s disheartening but I’m glad there’s no permanent damage.”
One of the Western Hockey League’s toughest fighters, Bertsch hoped to use this season to work on his offensive skills. He turned down an offer in September from the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, hoping to improve his stock with a big year in Spokane.
He played 247 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Chiefs, scoring 32 goals with 46 assists and 733 penalty minutes.
Acquired from Lethbridge in a trade in the ‘93-94 season, Bertsch became a leader popular with fans, players and coaches. As serious as he was on the ice, off the ice he was a practical joker who kept the club loose.
Speltz said Bertsch “gave hockey his best shot, accepted his role and did what he had to do to give himself an opportunity” to play professionally.
Speltz said he had no immediate plans to fill Bertsch’s spot on the roster.
Around the WHL
The Portland Winter Hawks have sent rookie goaltender Jason LeBarbera to the Tri-City Americans on loan until Ams starter Brian Boucher returns from the World Junior Tournament. Boucher is expected back on Jan. 11, at which time LaBarbera returns to Portland. He’ll be available Saturday night as the backup - Aaron Baker is the starter - when Tri-City visits Spokane. “I only think they should play him if Baker’s not playing well or they have three games in four nights or four in five,” Portland coach Brent Peterson said. Guess what? He’ll play. The Ams have five games in six nights to start the new year.
At the risk of jinxing Chiefs coach Mike Babcock’s attempt to win a fifth straight gold medal for Team Canada at the World Junior Tournament, the last time the Canadian team had a pair of Spokane players on it was 1992. Trevor Kidd and Steve Junker made it from Spokane that year, the year the Canadiens failed to place. This year’s Chiefs at the WJT are Trent Whitfield and Hugh Hamilton.
, DataTimes