THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601140213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Defenseman Jason MacIntyre, one of the Hampton Roads Admirals' most popular players, has been lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
MacIntyre will undergo surgery this week in Norfolk in which doctors will drill a hole into his collarbone and insert a screw to reattach the bone to his left shoulder joint.
``His shoulder's about to fall off,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``It's a shame. All the guy wants to do is to play and play hard.''
Last season, MacIntyre's second in Hampton Roads, the Admirals Booster Club voted him the team's player with the most heart. Though modestly talented, the Nova Scotia native won a spot on the team in 1994 because he outhustled and outhit more-talented players.
MacIntyre's shoulder was first injured in 1994 and has been reinjured half a dozen times since. The final blow came against Birmingham last month, when he collided with an opponent and his shoulder hit the ice. He tried to rehabilitate the injury and skated in practice last week, but to no avail.
``Every time he bumped the shoulder, he was down in pain,'' Admirals trainer Rick Burrill said.
MacIntyre said team doctors left the decision up to him.
``They told me I could try to come back later this season,'' he said. ``But there's no movement, no strength at all. I tried everything I could, but when I got on the ice, I couldn't shoot, I couldn't pass.''
This is the second tough break for MacIntyre, who was knocked unconscious when hit in the mouth by a puck earlier this season. The resulting concussion, which doctors say might have killed him had he not worn a specially made mouth guard, has produced lingering effects.
``I have problems remembering things,'' he said. ``The doctors say it will go away after a few months, but that's still a little scary.''
MacIntyre's girlfriend, Suzanne MacLeod, has moved from Nova Scotia to Virginia Beach to help him through the two-month rehabilitation to his shoulder.
``I really wanted to play,'' MacIntyre said. ``The boys are playing so well. It's tough to watch them out there when I know I can't be with them. It's hard to stomach.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
It's been a rough season for defenseman Jason MacIntyre, who has
taken a puck in the mouth in addition to his shoulder problems.
by CNB