Just 10 days after his stroke, Kristopher Letang was back in practice in a regular jersey Thursday morning.
The Quebecer is now assessed on a daily basis, announced the Pittsburgh Penguins, which means that he is getting closer to a return to play.
For the first time since the event that shook many hockey fans, the 35-year-old defender met the local media during a press conference broadcast on the organization’s website. He first returned to the moment when he felt something was wrong, on November 28.
In the past, I had a lot of migraines. Normally it takes about two hours. I have trouble with my vision, I have a headache and I’m nauseous. Either I vomit or I go to sleep and I’m okay then.
Kristopher Letang
“Normally, I have one every month, or every two months. But there, it started again every three hours. That’s when I called the doctor, told him I thought something was wrong. »
On the advice of the team doctor, Letang went to the hospital, where he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. A stroke, his second since 2014, was detected.
By announcing the news, the organization of the Penguins had immediately indicated that the doctors did not fear for the continuation of the career of the defender and that this one did not feel any sequelae of the accident. The next day, the Quebecer had attended his team’s game. He had also addressed his teammates in the locker room.
Family
Calm, Letang said that this episode had been “frightening” for his family.
“My kids, they don’t care that I’m a hockey player. They want a father. Same thing for my wife. She couldn’t care less about hockey. She knows there’s so much more to hockey than that. »
” It was hard. But we’ve been through it and [le médecin et moi] have a very clear agreement that we’re going to take all the time we need and do all the research we can to make sure it’s safe for me to play. »
The Quebecer said he was lucky to be able to return to a “normal life” so quickly.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Kristopher Letang
People who know me know that hockey is a passion. It will take a lot to get out of this. At the same time, I know the dangers and I make sure I know the risks I’m taking.
Kristopher Letang
Before returning to the game, the defender must above all get back into shape. According to The Athletic reporter Rob Rossi, he was employed on the third pair and on the second power play wave on Thursday morning.
“Mentally, I feel good enough to be back, to be honest,” Letang said. It’s always difficult to be at a standstill. I know that health comes first and I’m very lucky that we have the staff that we have.
“We take all the time we need to manage this. When I feel good enough to go to practice, like today, [le médecin] give me the green light if it’s safe. »