October 7, 2009

Back with Capitals, Pothier Relishes Fresh Start

The following article featuring former Rensselaer standout Brian Pothier appeared October 3 on the SouthCoast Today.com Web site.

 

By Mick Colageo

The real preseason for Brian Pothier was last spring's playoffs. With his 14-month medical ordeal firmly planted behind him, the New Bedford native skated a solid 16:15 of ice time on Thursday, helping the Washington Capitals start off the 2009-10 NHL season with a 4-1 victory over the Bruins in Boston.

"I'm really glad I was able to play a few games last year," said Pothier, referring to the Capitals' final nine regular-season and 13 of the team's 14 playoff games.

After missing 14 months of hockey with what turned out to be a vision-processing problem — it posed as ongoing concussion symptoms stemming from his Jan. 2, 2008, injury in Boston — Pothier was glad to avoid "having the whole summer to sort of marinate over all the stuff that was going on and the not get a game, and have that anxiety throughout the summer and not really know if you could play or not because you haven't tried. That would have been a lot, but I was really thankful I could play."

Complete article can be accessed via the SouthCoast Today Web site by clicking here.