Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Even as Brian Gallentine lay in a hospital bed Tuesday with his left eye swollen shut from the blow he received from a swinging hockey stick, he was focusing on his future.
His return to professional hockey appears fuzzy.
Gallentine, a 22-year-old rookie left winger for the Roanoke Express, is recovering in Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital from a serious eye injury he sustained in Roanoke's game against the Wheeling Thunderbirds on Sunday.
Gallentine was hit in the left eye by a high stick from Wheeling's Brock Woods 52 seconds into the second period of the game. An Express spokesman said doctors at first were worried that Gallentine might lose the eye, but tests showed that the tissues behind the eye were intact.
Now, Gallentine is preparing himself for a recovery that may take weeks or months. His eye is swollen shut, but he said he was able to detect a partial return of vision.
``I'm hanging in there,'' Gallentine said Tuesday from his hospital room. ``Right now, I'm letting time take its toll. I've had several tests, and everything seems to be intact. I'm waiting for the swelling to go down.''
At this point, Gallentine, who expects to be released from the hospital today, has no timetable to return to the ice.
``The doctors I've talked to said it would be a while before I'll play again,'' he said.
The high-sticking occurred in front of the Wheeling goal as Gallentine tried to poke a rebound into the net.
``All I remember is a stick across the face,'' Gallentine said.
The Express plans to send a videotape of the play to East Coast Hockey League commissioner Pat Kelly today. Gallentine said he isn't sure whether the high-sticking from Woods was a cheap shot or an accident.
``It's hard to label something a cheap shot,'' Gallentine said. ``People can say that [players] take cheap shots, [but] sometimes your stick gets up when you don't want it to get up.''
Gallentine was proving himself as one of the Express' best young players. The Jackson, Mich., native and former Western Michigan University player had scored two goals in his first seven professional games.
When he is released, Gallentine said he may return to Michigan for therapy.
``I won't be too sure [about what to do] until I talk to the doctors again,'' he said. ``They've recommended a place [to rehabilitate] back home. ... I can't wait to get over this.''
by CNB