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Bruins' Bergeron Plans To Return To The Ice

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Nov 8, 2007 5:13 pm US/Eastern

Bruins' Bergeron Plans To Return To The Ice

Says NHL Needs To Crack Down On Hits From Behind

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron says he will return to hockey. The timing of that return, however, remains a serious question.

Bergeron spoke to the media Thursday, for the first time since suffering a serious concussion and broken nose on October 27, when he was hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones.

Bergeron, 22, appeared before reporters wearing a neck brace, the injury to his nose still visible. He said that the NHL must crack down on the type of hit that could have ended his career.

"Hitting is part of the game, but not from behind. It's in the rules. You see a player's name and number, you need to stop," Bergeron said in his first public comments. "We need to respect the players. Now we see the consequences. Fortunately I can sit up here, I'm not in a wheelchair."

Bergeron lost consciousness after the hit and was taken from the ice on a stretcher. It was a frightening scene for fans and teammates as medical personnel cut away Bergeron's jersey and shoulder pads, placed his neck in a brace, put him on a board and then onto a stretcher, his legs taped together and his arms folded across his chest. There was little sign of movement.

Bergeron was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. He said Thursday that he does plan to return to the ice, but offered no timetable. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has said concussions like the one Bergeron suffered usually take at least a month to come back from, and the team has not estimated when he might return.

Jones, who was suspended for two games by the NHL for the hit, has tried to contact Bergeron.

"He left a message last week. I wasn't feeling comfortable," said Bergeron. "He apologized and said (he) didn't mean to do it."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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