Untimely sports injuries – disruptive and disappointing
Reading an article some time ago, it was noted that our athletes often begin playing competitive sports as early as age seven. The writer pointed out – the opportunity for injury becomes enormous leading to uncountable emergency room visits to hospitals. What followed was information advising parents on what to do in particular injury situations.
I was reminded of the article recently.
During a hockey game on March 9 at the Trenton Minor Sports Community Centre, Calem Mcandrew’s hockey season was instantly disrupted. The Pictou County Scotians forward’s injury took place while playing in a Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League playoff game against the Eskasoni Eagles.
“There were seven minutes remaining in the first period,” Mcandrew, 20, of Brentwood, recalled. “We were down two games to one in the junior B playoff series, but my thoughts were - we have a pretty good chance of winning this game and taking the series. That’s when I got injured, I broke my leg.
“It was a clean check, nothing malicious, an Eskasoni player took me out along the boards, unfortunately, his leg jammed my leg against the boards. When I tried to get up, I couldn’t pull my ankle up to get it underneath me. I pretty well knew right away that something was very wrong.”
Through X-rays and conferring with doctors, Mcandrew learned that he suffered a spiral fracture of the left fibula.
“Up until the point of being injured, I was enjoying playing for head coach Cole Baker and assistant coach Marc Aucoin. I thought I had a pretty good season, we had good team spirit, our guys all wanted to win and we thought we could go deep in the playoffs. My injury was unfortunate, for the team and for me. It is a very disappointing way to end the hockey season.”
Mcandrew advised - his Scotians eventually lost out to Eskasoni.
In lacrosse, Mcandrew plays transition with Mi ’Kmag Warriors, a local team in the six-team East Coast Junior Lacrosse League. This is his 10th season playing lacrosse.
“Going into the lacrosse season, unfortunately, I don’t know if I’ll be able to play,” Mcandrew said. “Being optimistic I’d like to think I’ll get back by late season but, realistically, there’s a chance I won’t get to play at all. I was told three months as an estimate of recovery time, being in a cast and physiotherapy.”
The captain of the Warriors and a team leader, Mcandrew is also the coach of the U-15 Bearcats in the Scotia Minor Lacrosse League. Likewise, he is very busy and a valuable contributor in hockey, as head coach of a South Colchester Minor Hockey Association U-18 team.
Mcandrew’s minor hockey was played out of Brookfield. At age 17 he was a rookie in junior B ranks with the 2019-20 Brookfield Elks, he recorded 14 points in 20 games. Playing three seasons in total with the Elks, he joined Pictou County this season. In regular season play with the Scotians, Mcandrew, a centre, had one goal and six assists; in the playoffs, he had three assists in four games.
Now in his second year of taking an electrical apprenticeship, Mcandrew works for Wayne Whalen Electrical of Milford.
A very interesting and personable young man, Calem has a positive outlook for the future. We wish him a speedy recovery.
In recently watching the top seven Nova Scotia U-15 Major Hockey League teams during Provincials at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, two other untimely sports injuries were brought to my attention.
Again, a reminder as to how resilient young athletes are, their determination and capacity to return to normal is indeed uplifting.
Next week we’ll meet two young men, both players with Truro Bearcats in Nova Scotia U-15 Major hockey.
Henry Thorne: 13, Stellarton, forward, suffered a cracked bone in his right leg while skiing one week before provincials. Wearing a leg cast, he missed out on a hockey event he was highly passionate about. Henry has terrific spirit and is optimistic that around the middle of April, his recovery time will have reached a positive point. With that in mind - he is thinking about a number of sports.
Ryan Mcdonald: 14, Crowes Mills, defenceman; during a September U-15 Major hockey game, he suffered a severed left Achilles tendon. Approximately three months later, Ryan was back skating. Rejoining his Bearcats teammates recently, he dressed for all six games during provincials. Beginning with game four, he received ice time. What an amazing recovery.
Next week - their stories, Henry Thorne and Ryan Macdonald…