NHL
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup
Video Highlights

 Tuesday, April 11
Berard not advocate of wearing visor
 
Associated Press

 CRANSTON, R.I. -- Bryan Berard hopes to play hockey again after being accidentally blinded in one eye with the blade of a stick last month.

"My life is hockey and it is a tough time for me right now because I don't know if I will get back on the ice," he said Wednesday. "But I believe I will."

Bryan Berard
Bryan Berard said he doesn't hold any animosity toward Marian Hossa.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, wearing dark sunglasses, appeared at a news conference in his first public remarks since the March 11 injury.

Berard's mother Pam wiped away tears as her son discussed his recovery. She and her husband, Wally Berard, wearing a Maple Leafs jacket, declined to comment.

Doctors are uncertain if Berard will regain sight in his right eye. The NHL forbids players with sight in just one eye from competing.

"I believe that I will see out of this eye and get back on that ice. With the support of my family, the Toronto organization and the fans I just have to have faith in God that he can bring me back my sight. I have to believe in that."

Berard, not wearing a visor, was hit by Marian Hossa's stick during a game at Ottawa. Berard was left with a cut cornea, detached retina and fractured orbital bone. The retina was reattached during a 4½-hour operation March 21.

"That retina can become detached again with time if there is a lot of scar tissue built up in the time," Berard said. "We just have to wait.

"I know now that I still do have some blood in my eye. They can't tell too much with that, they just have to wait until that recycles. They hope that it is not dried up because if it is then it will be another surgery procedure. It's just time."

Berard said he doesn't blame Hossa.

"It was an accident," Berard said. "It's part of the game. I don't blame him in any way."

Berard said if he returns to hockey he probably won't use a visor.

"I don't like to wear a visor," he said. "It can help you in injuries. But I think with this injury, the way the stick came from underneath, it maybe would have stopped some of the damage but it still would have hit me in the eye.

"I think that's up to the player. If a guy feels more comfortable on the ice wearing a visor, good. I mean we're professional athletes. I think we can make that choice. I'm for and I'm not for visors. I'm kind of in the middle."

But Berard said he is prepared if doctors tell him his career is through.

"I'm still young, I'm 23 years old," he said. "I'm going to give this the hardest fight of my life to get back on the ice. But if not, there is something out there for me."

In 64 games this season, Berard had three goals and 27 assists. The Leafs struggled after his injury, losing five of six games.

Berard was the No. 1 pick in the 1995 entry draft. After he refused to play for Ottawa, the Senators traded him to the New York Islanders. Toronto acquired him for goaltender Felix Potvin on Jan. 9, 1999.

In 1997, Berard won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. Besides his Olympics participation, Berard played for the United States at the 1995 and 1996 world junior tournaments and at the 1997 world championships.
 


AUDIO/VIDEO
 Bryan Berard feels good about the progress of his recovery.
avi: 1000 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Berard doesn't believe a visor would have prevented the injury.
avi: 1000 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1