Michaels Suffers Setback

By R. Inkrat, Special to the Times of London (reprinted by permission)

Falmouth Maine August 6, 2011 – Star Morning Hockey Club goalie Glenn Michaels, known worldwide and celebrated throughout Northern Europe ever since his triumphal European tour this year, has suffered what appears to be a serious injury with the prospect of months of recovery ahead before he can return to action.

Michaels, a team leader of the Blue Dogs, was participating in the Tim Thomas goalie camp at the invitation of Thomas, the Vezina Trophy winner as the top goal keeper in last year’s NHL season.  Thomas had said he was hoping to get some pointers from Michaels.  While he was demonstrating a movement to Thomas, Michaels caught a skate blade in a rut in the ice and went down quickly.  He then had difficulty getting back to his feet and had to be helped from the ice.  

At first Michaels did not think it was that serious.  “I took a shower and drove home -- lifting my foot to the pedal,” he said. “In hindsight, I might have had someone drive me home.”

After checking at the hospital and learning he had not broken anything, Michaels consulted a sports medicine specialist who using a sonogram determined that the quadriceps muscle had detached from the bone in his right leg.  “That was the good news and it went downhill quickly from there,” Michaels quipped with his usual wry wit and good humor.  Michaels will undergo surgery Monday at Parkview Hospital to re-attach the muscle. After that he is expected to be in an inflatable cast with the leg fully extended for a month. “It will be a four to six month recovery period I have been told,” Michaels said. “I am not in pain at this time (which I know is a disappointment to many of you). However, that may change after surgery.”

There was sadness around the league and among hockey fans nationwide and around the world to learn of Michaels’ injury, especially with a veteran just hitting the prime of his career.  Thomas himself was inconsolable and unable to speak to the press for more than an hour after the incident.  “How do you describe your feelings seeing one of the greats like Glenn go down like that,” Thomas said.  “It was just like Glenn to be willing to help me out by showing me all his moves.”

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