Facing Set Backs as a Young Athlete

Quentin Gross, Staff Writer

How does a player’s healthiness affect their sports career?

Coaches for all sports need their players to perform at the best version of themselves which includes their physical health. For example, Phil Kessel played 1,064 straight games in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and the Vegas Golden Knights. Kessel had a prestigious career because he remained healthy for the 17 years he played in the league.

Cal Ripken Jr. did this in the MLB as well, playing 2,632 games in a row for the Baltimore Orioles.

These two players had successful careers in their respective fields. They both played a historic number of games in a row because they stayed healthy.

Now, let’s take a look at the other side of this. Second overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, Nolan Patrick, had been ranked very high among prospects. Patrick stayed healthy for his first two seasons in the league, putting up 61 points in 145 games. Nearing the end of the 2018-2019 season, Patrick got injured and remained out with a concussion. He went on to miss the entirety of the 2019-2020 season. Patrick came back after not playing in an NHL game in 650 days, and in the season opener for the Philadelphia Flyers, he scored a goal and played a big part of the 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Patrick went on with the season, but it ended short after another head injury. Patrick only played 52 games and scored nine points the whole season. Then again, the next season he played 25 games and scored just seven points. Doctors diagnosed Patrick with a Hereditary Migraine Disorder and he had to retire.

My point, that the health of a player can either make or break their entire career. As a young and upcoming athlete myself, I too have battled some injuries. In November 2023, in a varsity game against Prosper High School, I took a big hit that slammed me into the boards. Because of the adrenaline of a hockey game, I didn’t even feel it that much until after the game when I went out to eat with a friend. I went to pick up my fork when I felt the horrendous pain that came with moving my left arm. I saw an Orthopedic doctor a few days later, and they said I had potentially broken my shoulder. The doctor warned me and my mother that if I kept playing without it healing, one of the joints in my shoulder could rip off. He suggested I get an MRI to know for sure what had happened with my shoulder, and to rest for six to eight weeks before doing any form of physical activity. I never got the MRI because of unreasonable pricing. But after eight long weeks, I finally played again. I came back to practice and felt great. Until a tournament a few weeks later where I took a hit again and went right back to the same pain. After another long eight weeks, I returned. Again. I finished the season strong with no injuries. I played the entire varsity summer league without facing any injuries. As this upcoming season began, I had a scrimmage against the Texas Warriors 16u A team. We were up 2-0 going into the third period, so the team felt confident. I went to lay a minor hit on an opposing player, attempting to steal the puck. The second our shoulders collided, I could feel it again. The sharp pain in the back of my shoulder intensified when I would rotate my arm in any direction.

This setback has happened before and I have bounced back once before this. I am confident in my ability to come back from this shoulder injury with intensity and specifically working to not let something like this happen again. I believe in myself and I know that when I am healthy again, I am going to be a force in the DFW Varsity league, and in my travel league.