Painful reminders of Carolina Hurricanes’ last four months

Screenshot of Eric Staal knee injury – TSN video
Screenshot of Eric Staal knee injury – TSN video

RALEIGH, N.C. – For Carolina Hurricanes fans and team personnel it was hard to watch the team’s foundation players, goaltender Cam Ward and captain Eric Staal, suffer significant injuries last season.

Though it is important to look forward, quickly glancing backwards to the starting point that these two players have had to work form in recovering from their injuries will truly tell the tale of how far they will have traveled once training camp begins.

Head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach Peter Friesen has seen great progress in both players’ recovery and will work hard to ensure they’re ready for camp.

The news is positive as a result of the comprehensive effort of Friesen and his staff working hand-in-hand with the Hurricanes’ medical staff in concert with the individual trainers and doctors who oversee Ward and Staal during the offseason.

Coupled with the work ethic that each player possesses to be ready to lead the team into training camp, such character-building moments, as scary as they initially were, may pay dividends in the long run.