MacArthur makes ‘emotional’ return to lineup
Teammates not told until 4:30 p.m.
Clarke MacArthur was holding back tears moments after returning to the Ottawa Senators lineup in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
“It was emotional and you just try to keep it in check,” MacArthur said, playing his first game since Oct. 2015, after a series of seemingly endless roadblocks in his recovery from concussions. “I just wanted to go about my business and it was a big game and a lot going on. It was great to get the win.”
Before Tuesday, MacArthur hadn’t played an NHL game since leaving the ice with a concussion in Columbus on Oct. 14, 2015. It was also his first game since suffering a concussion when hit hard by Senators prospect Patrick Sieloff during the club’s first intrasquad session last September.
MacArthur says he was bolstered by the support of his teammates.
“Everyone is excited,” he said. “Everyone has seen what has gone on in the past couple of years. It’s just great to be back, to be back playing. I wanted to play and the hurdles to get over everything and our staff and the whole medical thing ... a delicate situation that you have to cross all the T’s. I was very thankful for the organization to give me another chance again.”
He signalled his arrival by throwing a hard bodycheck on his first shift.
The Senators kept MacArthur’s return under wraps until the last moment. Even his teammates had little idea of what was in store when they showed up at Canadian Tire Centre late Tuesday afternoon.
“We kept it a surprise until (4:30 p.m.) when (coach Guy Boucher) put his name on the board,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a news conference before the game. “I saw a few handshakes, hugs. His teammates have seen him work as hard as anyone this year. We have followed proper NHL protocol on how we’re supposed to do things.”
MacArthur, 31, is in the second season of a five-year, $23.25-million contract. He appeared on track to return in January, but didn’t pass a baseline concussion test. At the time, Dorion said his season was over. Many observers wondered if his career was over, too.
But when MacArthur returned to practise with the team in March, he was in a refreshed state of mind, hoping to at least receive clearance to return next season.
Last week, he passed another baseline test while the Senators were on an extended trip.
There are no shortage of critics, suggesting that MacArthur is only one hit away from even more severe damage. His training-camp concussion was the fourth documented in 18 months.
During the extended recovery in 2015-16, MacArthur endured severe vertigo, stinging headaches and exhaustion, sleeping weeks at a time. He felt the stress of being unable to do much around the house, a strain for his wife, Jessica. At times, he couldn’t even play with his children, Emery and Gus.
Yet according to Dorion, all the required poking and prodding was done to make sure he could return.
“Clarke was medically cleared over a week ago,” Dorion said. “We had all the necessary conversations with Clarke. We talked with his family. We talked with his agent.”