*FAN SUBMISSION by Charlotte Girnus of Texas.*
The Stanley Cup series between the Boston Bruin and Chicago Blackhawks proved not just how tough athletes are, but especially hockey players; there is tough, and then there is hockey tough.
In game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Patrice Bergeron played with a broken rib and separated shoulder to help his team have a better chance surviving and forcing the series back to Chicago to play in a game 7. Over the years, many spectators haven’t seen a player play with several severe injuries to help their team achieve their goal. But to me this shows the love and dedication to a player’s drive to succeed, as well as the teams.
Courtesy: USA Today
For the Blackhawks, Marian Hossa played the game with slipped disk, hitting a nerve making the knee go numb. How is this comfortable? It isn’t, but he deals with the pain to achieve his, as well as his team’s, goal. During the game, fellow teammate, Andrew Shaw was hit with a puck to the face of a shot by Boston’s’ Thornton. Did he decide not to play? No, he came back to the ice to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.
Over the past years, numerous hockey players have come forth with an injury during crucial moments in the playoffs, but are were willing sacrifice themselves in order to help their team win. The players in the NHL have shown the sports world time and time again why they are some of the toughest people out there.
