Joe Warmington, The Toronto Sun Oakville | Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 5:12 am
He may not have seen it but young hockey player Ben Fanelli lived it.
At least that’s what doctors, his teammates and his loving family have told him.
The 16-year-old Fanelli also doesn’t remember an opposing forward crashing toward him, his head smashing into the glass, his blood pouring onto the ice, his teammates circled around him in prayer, him being taken off with a back board before the horrified Kitchener crowd or the airlift to hospital in critical condition.
But one look in the mirror shows something drastic happened. And that giant scar running down from his right eye tells the whole story of a kid who suffered a cracked skull and broken orbital bone.
Throw in that “fuzzy” feeling as he walks and the Oakville kid understands it must have been a heck of a wallop which prompted OHL commissioner David Branch to suspend Erie Otter Mike Liambas for the remainder of the OHL season.
“I don’t remember any of it,” the talented Kitchener Rangers defenceman laughs Tuesday in his first public words about the Friday, Oct. 30 bodycheck seen and heard across the country.
Of course his mortified parents certainly do since they were at the game.
“It was my worst nightmare,” says his mom, Susan.
Firefighter dad Frank agrees, saying they are so grateful to have their son home because in the hours after this incident it was “touch and go” where doctors warned there were no guarantees.
“I thought for sure he was going to check out,” says an emotional Frank. “If you had a child you would understand how that felt. I died inside.”
Their son dying, being on life-support or permanently disabled were all scenarios they were trying to come to grips with.
But there they were yesterday.
Their wonderful son is home from hospital, healing and already looking ahead. From the depths of darkness to relief.
“We want to thank everybody for their cards, well wishes and prayers,” says Susan.
“And the Kitchener Rangers organization has been amazing,” says Frank.
Ben adds he was shocked that so many cared — everything from being mentioned on Hockey Night in Canada to having former NHLer Adam Graves come to visit him in hospital.
The product of the Mississauga Senators of the GTHL’s focus now is to work with the doctors and recover from this unexpected road block in his career.
“I can’t wait to get back on the bus and see the guys again,” says an enthusiastic Ben.
Not so fast, say his parents. There are a number of steps to go through first.
“He is going back to McMaster for more tests,” says his dad, adding there are concerns over a “clot” as well as other potential damage.
While Ben’s mom says, “there will be some discussion before he puts the skates on again” you could certainly tell by the look on Ben’s face that if he has his way not only will he do that, but he’ll be back out there on OHL ice as soon as humanly possible.
Those kinds of decisions will have to come in their proper time, says Frank.
“We don’t know yet,” he says of the long-term prognosis, adding there are more tests to come.
But he’s certainly in a better place than a week ago. And it was a good sign to see young Ben Tuesday throw on his Kitchener Rangers number 4 and head out for a walk around the block with his mom and dad.
He’s a very nice kid and you can tell why because he comes from a very nice family.
“I feel pretty good right now,” says Ben with a smile.
He’ll feel even better when he can get back in the Kitchener Rangers’ lineup — one event he, and all those who root for him, will have no problem remembering.
Guelph Hurricanes Hockey Club 