EVERETT — Daniel Bartek is taking one for the team.
The Everett Silvertips left wing is playing despite a broken hand, and he’s doing so with the long-term team picture in mind.
Bartek, an overager from the Czech Republic and arguably Everett’s best all-around forward, broke his hand Feb. 18 during a 7-3 home victory against Portland. It’s an injury that usually takes a month to heal. However, Bartek was back on the ice 11 days later, defying the odds.
“I told the coaches that if I wasn’t a 20-year-old in my last season (in the WHL), and if we weren’t so close to the playoffs, then I would have given it time to heal and make sure everything’s fine,” Bartek said. “But I don’t have time like other players. If there was any chance I wanted to take the risk and be in the best possible shape for the playoffs.”
Bartek, who has 16 goals and 19 assists in 45 games, sustained the injury while blocking a shot. The original prognosis was that the injury might keep him out for the remainder of the regular season as well as the first round of the playoffs.
But Bartek decided to put a splint on his hand, grit his teeth and endure the pain. He’s played in two games with the injury thus far, and so far he’s looked completely unaffected. The splint may make stick handling and shooting more difficult, but it has little effect on working hard and winning battles along the boards, which are Bartek’s stock in trade.
And so far the pain is bearable.
“Right now, it’s a little sore from the two games, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” Bartek said. “It doesn’t have an effect on me trying hard, or on my skating. As long as I can hold a stick I’ll be out there.”
Everett won’t allow ailing players to compete “if there’s a risk of making an injury worse,” Everett coach John Becanic said.
“But if it’s just pain, if the player chooses to play we’ll play him,” Becanic said. “Daniel’s pain tolerance is such that you wonder how he does it.”
Part of Bartek’s motivation for getting back in the lineup so quickly was pure exasperation. He had just recovered from a broken foot — also sustained while blocking a shot — when he suffered the hand injury. Bartek was not interested in spending another month on the sidelines after getting back for just four games.
“I was very frustrated sitting again so shortly after the foot injury,” Bartek said. “I was just getting back into shape and I hurt myself again. I was down on myself for being injured all the time. So I told myself that it doesn’t matter if it hurts, I’m going to be back as soon as possible.”
And Bartek’s actions can’t help but be an inspiration to the rest of the team.
“It was amazing he was even willing to block a shot after breaking a foot,” Becanic said. “That tells you about his character. He’s not a real vocal guy, but it’s hard not to be inspired by that. His leadership comes not from vocalness, but by example.”
Slap shots: Everett left wing Tyler Maxwell skated for the first time in three weeks Thursday. Maxwell hasn’t played since Feb. 8 because of a cracked kneecap. He isn’t expected to be back for Sunday’s game in Portland, but the team hopes he’ll be available sometime next week. … Center Paul Van de Velde, who has been skating in practice for some time but hasn’t played since Feb. 11 because of a shoulder injury, should be able to return to the lineup Sunday. … Right wing Dale Hunt and defenseman Trevor Bauer are still sidelined indefinitely because of concussions.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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