Forward has no regrets
LAKE WORTH — Sean Bergenheim could have been celebrating as part of Finland’s bronze medalwinning hockey team Saturday in Sochi, Russia.
Instead, he was scrimmaging with his Panthers teammates in front of several hundred fans at the Palm Beach Skate Zone while the television in the lobby showed the Finns shutting the United States out of a place on the podium 5- 0.
“I think it’s awesome for our country that has 5.5 million people, it seems like every year, to be able to battle against so- called big countries. We are really proud of our hockey in Finland, and I think we should be. It’s a great day for us,” Bergenheim said after his countrymen secured a medal for the fifth time in the past six Olympics.
The Panthers forward could have been part of it. Although not initially selected, Bergenheim was invited to join the Finnish team just before the Games when injuries to fellow NHL forwards Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Flippula created a need.
Bergenheim declined, preferring to use the nearly three- week NHL break to continue rehabilitation of his core after multiple surgeries on his groin and abdomen forced him to sit out the 2012- 13 lockout- shortened season.
It would have been his first Olympics. Considering he is 30, it could be the last opportunity. But Bergenheim said he has no regrets about passing it up.
“I would have liked to play in the Olympics for sure. But therewas no question in my mind whatwas the right thing todo,” he said. “For me, at this point in my career, I had to make this choice and just focus on getting better.”
Since starting the season on injured reserve, Bergenheim has played in 43 of the Panthers’ 58 games, registering 19 points. His13 goals are tied for second on the team, two behind Brad Boyes.
But Bergenheim said he is not yet at full strength, and utilizing the break to work daily with Panthers trainers and therapists enabled him to get closer to 100 percent.
The consideration in skipping the Olympics was underscored by the knee injury suffered by Panthers center Aleksander Barkov in Finland’s secondgame, jeopardizing the remainder of his rookie season in the NHL.
Interim coach Peter Horachek said Barkov won’t need surgery, whichwas initially feared, but the second overall pick in the 2013 draft will be out indefinitely. So will forward Tomas Kopecky, who sustained a concussion while playing for Slovakia in the Olympics.
“That’s really unfortunate. Agreat thing for him to be a part of the Olympics; at least he saw a little bit of it. But obviously, for us as a team it’s a huge blow,” Bergenheim said of Barkov.
As for his country’s knack for success in international play, Bergenheim said, “It just seems that in a short tournament we become a team really quick and play a really solid team game.”
Bjugstad steps up
Nick Bjugstad, the Panthers’ other impressive rookie center, seemed like a natural fit skating in place of Barkov on the top line Saturday between Bergenheim and Boyes. Horachek is looking for chemistry there. Itwould keep the B- Line designation in tact.
The Panthers practiced for just over an hour, then signed autographs for an appreciative crowd that packed the Skate Zone for the Panthers’ rare Palm Beach County appearance.
“Itwas great to see a great turnout. There must be a lot of fans up here in this area,” Horachek said. “I think our players liked it.”