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The 'B' stands for bonkers, and Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Bonkers

Fractured rib, separated shoulder and collapsed lung, yet this Boston Bruin played on

Patrice Bergeron had a gay old time of it in the NHL playoffs this year.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD Patrice Bergeron has revealed that he suffered a collapsed lung during his side’s 2013 playoff run, which ended with a loss to the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

The 27-year-old was admitted to hospital with a string of injuries immediately following Chicago’s 3-2 game six title-clinching victory on 24 June. Bergeron suffered a fractured rib, torn rib cartilage, separated right shoulder and, the most serious, a collapsed left lung.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Bergeron announced in his first comments since being released from a Boston hospital. The Canadian said the good news is that the shoulder will heal on its own and he will not require surgery to repair it.

“I guess the ribs and the shoulder now just need to get some time to rest but it’s a lot better,” Bergeron said. “No surgeries on the shoulder. It’s just separated. It’s going to heal. I’m going to need, obviously, some treatments. It’s more … take time to rest it and make sure it heals on its own.”

Bergeron was taken to hospital in an ambulance after game five in Chicago because of the torn cartilage but he eventually checked himself out and returned with the team to Boston for the final game of the series. His troubles actually started in game four of the series when he tore his rib cartilage. Bergeron said:

It first happened in game four in Chicago … I guess my cartilage must have torn in the corner there against I think it was (Michael) Frolik. It escalated because I kept playing. In game five, I think it was the first or second shift, I got hit again right on the ribs and that’s when I’m sure it cracked and it got worse.”

The list of injuries escalated in the first period of game six when he separated his right shoulder. He went back to the hospital after game six where his breathing also got worse. “Luckily enough they made the right decision because I went there right away and they found out that my lung had collapsed,” he said.

National Hockey League players are renowned for playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs despite suffering extreme injuries.

In 1998, Detroit Red Wings forward Brent Gilchrist’s groin injury was so bad he had the team trainer inject him with a pain killer in the groin before each game to allow him to skate. Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Bobby Baun scored the game-winning goal in overtime on a broken ankle in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals.

Baun busted his ankle in regulation in game six and after seeking medical treatment he returned to the contest in overtime to notch the winner before being helped off the ice by his teammates. Chicago Blackhawks forward Dirk Graham played in the 1990 playoffs despite suffering a cracked left kneecap which required post-season surgery.

© AFP, 2013

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