Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron helped Mark Kastelic in an unexpected way
Photo credit: Black N Gold Hockey
After being acquired in the off-season, Mark Kastelic quickly became a fan favourite within the fan base of the Boston Bruins. He was acquired in a trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators and the Bruins also acquired Joonas Korpisalo and a first-round pick.
Kastelic had his season come to an end early after he suffered an upper-body injury against the Vegas Golden Knights on March 20th.
He ended up coming out and stating that he was dealing with lingering symptoms from the concussion that he suffered after taking a cheap shot from Lightning's defenseman Emil Lilleberg in January.
«Right now, I feel like kind of the best I've felt in a long time, even dating back to January,» Kastelic told reporters during his end-of-season media availability at Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday. «I've been dealing with just the lingering symptoms of the first concussion I've had, and that's been a bit of a process to kind of try and get over that hump.»
After missing the remaining 12 games of the season, Kastelic stated that he didn't get re injured in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
«It wasn't necessarily like a hit. Nothing happened in that Vegas game, it was more just not feeling like myself and having to kind of be honest with how I was feeling, because it's not something I feel like was worth pushing through when it's a head injury,» he said. «So, I feel like over the last couple of months, I've kind of it's been really hard on just trying to tell myself I'm okay, but being honest with myself.
«So, it was a hard conversation I had to have just my inner thoughts, and I think it was for the best, though, long term, because I want to have a long, healthy career, and I'm confident I'll do that. And, I think that was necessary. I'm feeling a lot better now.»
«So, it was a hard conversation I had to have just my inner thoughts, and I think it was for the best, though, long term, because I want to have a long, healthy career, and I'm confident I'll do that. And, I think that was necessary. I'm feeling a lot better now.»
Former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron had his fair share of concussions.
«I've had a lot of people in my corner throughout this whole last couple of months, and most recently, talked to Bergy a little bit on the phone, as well as sports psych guys for the mental side of things,» Kastelic said. «It's very reassuring just to hear from guys on that level, like Bergy, just hearing his process and what he had to go through in the past.
«I think after that phone call, it just helped me feel more confident about the future going forward and just having a positive outlook on the end result.»
«I think after that phone call, it just helped me feel more confident about the future going forward and just having a positive outlook on the end result.»
Kastelic did state that he doesn't plan on changing the way that he plays the game, and that involves dropping the gloves.
«I just love to compete and play hard,» he said. «I think that comes with the territory. It's not like I'm trying to go out there and (fight), but try to stick up for yourself and protect yourself and protect the guys in the room.
«Nothing's going to dissuade me from just playing a hard style game. That's why I think this summer will be great for just kind of putting everything behind me.»
«Nothing's going to dissuade me from just playing a hard style game. That's why I think this summer will be great for just kind of putting everything behind me.»
In 61 games this season with the Boston Bruins, Kastelic ended up netting five goals and nine assists for 14 points this year.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 21 | 271 ANSWERS Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron helped Mark Kastelic in an unexpected way Do you think Mark Kastelic is going to be healthy for next season? | ||
| Yes | 212 | 78.2 % |
| No | 59 | 21.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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