Tynan determined to come back
IceDogs goalie Tucker Tynan is home in Chicago recovering from surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Photo: OHL IMAGES
Tucker Tynan is on the road to recovery.
The Niagara IceDogs goaltender, who suffered a horrific leg injury Dec. 12 in a game at Meridian Centre versus the London Knights, is home convalescing in Chicago and reports he is feeling good following surgery two weeks ago to ensure his muscle is re-attaching properly.
“The surgery went really good. I’m optimistic I’ll be back soon enough,” he said. “It’s going really well.”
Tynan has stopped using crutches and is walking with a brace.
“I’m in physical therapy right now working on getting more mobility,” he said. “The first week was pretty good and every week I can bend my knee more and (getting) more mobility.”
Tynan isn’t sure when he will return to Niagara, but will at some point to continue his therapy.
For now, he is following the team as best he can, but is naturally missing his teammates.
“It obviously sucks not being able to play and not being with the guys, but it is what it is. It’s an unfortunate situation but I’ll be back,” he said.
Tynan even feels he could return to action come playoff time.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It depends on how it heals up. There’s always a chance. You never know.”
Tynan suffered a torn quad muscle in his right leg when cut by the skate blade of London’s Hunter Skinner, who slid into the goalie early in the second period.
The 17-year-old said he still has vivid memories of the incident.
“It seemed like such an innocent play. It just got me in the wrong spot,” he said.
He also remembers what occurred immediately following the play as the crowd at Meridian Centre watched in silence as he was being tended to.
“I remember I lost cautiousness. I remember everything minute to minute,” he said. “It was just really unfortunate and a total complete accident. There’s nothing you can do, right?”
Tynan was quick to compliment Chris Trivieri, Nick Hornby, Nick Tamburri of the IceDogs training staff, and Doug Stacey, the Knights head of physio, for their expertise. Doctors told the IceDogs Tynan could have died from losing so much blood had he not been attended to so quickly and efficiently.
“I saw there was a lot of blood and figured I was in good hands,” Tynan said. “All those guys are really, really good at their jobs and I was fortunate to be in good hands.”
Tynan recalls not panicking despite the gravity of the situation.
“No, not really. I don’t know how to explain it but I thought to myself no matter how bad it was, with hard work I’ll be able to come back,” he said. “There’s nothing I won’t be able to do. That’s what I was hoping and it turned out pretty good.”
The IceDogs will be hosting a blood drive in honour of Tynan at the St. Catharines Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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