Hobbled Hobson just waits
Spokane Chiefs captain Adam Hobson said he remembers the early November play that put him out of action just like it was yesterday.
“Portland, (Max) Gordichuk, on the PK (penalty kill),” he recalled Thursday. “I went down, blocked the shot and it bounced directly off my knee and the puck went down all the way to the other end of the ice. I barely made it off the ice – one of the worst pains I’ve ever had in my life.”
Gordichuk, a 6-foot-6 defenseman, packs a wallop in his shot. The puck hit Hobson just wrong, with his knee bent and in a spot without protection, exposing the kneecap and femur bone to injury.
In a tribute to his toughness, Hobson continued to play not only that game but also three more before he couldn’t take the pain any longer.
“It got to a point where it hurt too much to skate any more,” said Hobson. “Now I’m sitting here a month, two months later.”
Hobson has been out since then and the Chiefs and their fans continue to wonder when he’ll be back. So does Hobson – and the answer isn’t that simple.
Coach Bill Peters has jokingly referred to it as the “longest day-to-day injury in the history of hockey.” Hobson also tries to laugh about it, even as his status has officially digressed to “week-to-week.”
Hobson suffered a “significant bone bruise” with some muscle damage in the area adjacent to the injury. He has been undergoing regular treatment and using crutches for a few weeks to take weight off the knee. Still, the injury pains him.
“I didn’t really think a bone bruise would turn out to be something really that special, but it turns out to be pretty serious and I can’t really do anything until it’s a hundred percent healed,” said Hobson.
Hobson tried to test the knee on the ice after a December game. It felt great – that night – but he paid the price the next day. The episode taught him he needs to let it heal fully or risk an end to his season, possibly his pro career. He can’t rush back.
For the team, it’s déjÀ vu all over again. The Chiefs lost captain Jeff Lynch for much of last season. Yet Peters sees the cup half full with the situation. It’s all he can do.
“It’s given some of the young guys a chance to step up and they’ve done well,” said Peters. “Still, when you lose a guy like Hobby, it’s a big thing. We’d love to have him back – when he’s ready.”
Meanwhile, Hobson is increasingly frustrated by his daily routine. He isn’t able to work out with his teammates and sees spots in games while watching from the stands in which he feels he could help. He waits for test results and the healing process – all of it beyond his control.
“It’s very unpredictable,” he said. “It just kind of goes by itself and, all of the sudden, one day – they say – it will wake up and it’ll be good to go. But you won’t know until that day comes.”
Important stretch looms
The Chiefs are set to play five straight home games with two highly ranked teams visiting in the next week.
Tonight, the Central Hockey League’s top-ranked team, Everett, visits in a division game. Seventh-ranked Kamloops comes in Wednesday.
The Chiefs stand tied for third with Tri-City in the U.S. Division, three points behind Seattle. The teams have been swapping spots in the standings nightly.
General manager Tim Speltz said he is happy with the roster, but said it’s still possible a trade could happen before Wednesday’s deadline. But nothing is likely to happen along the lines of the six-player trade that Spokane pulled off last year.
“Chiefs forward Drayson Bowman has been picked for the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 17 in Quebec City. The game is a showcase for 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top players eligible for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.