Kitchener Rangers' defenceman Ben Fanelli has begun his comeback season in the Ontario Hockey League. He hit the Auditorium ice Wednesday night as the Rangers officially opened their 2011-12 training camp.
Rangers' Head Coach Steve Spott says "This is probably up top for me with regards to having a special player and a special moment, because I don't think too many people thought this would become a reality."
Fanelli suffered a serious head injury in a game against Erie almost two years ago. In October 2009, he took a violent hit from Otters' forward Michael Liambas.
He suffered skull and facial fractures and spent one week in critical but stable condition at Hamilton General Hospital.
His comeback has taken exactly 22 months. Last November, doctors cleared him to begin full-contact practices.
Fanelli says "A week or so after the hospital I realized that I would be able to go back to a regular life, but for me a regular life is working and playing to try and make it to the NHL."
Since then, the 18-year-old has also founded 'Head Strong,' a program designed to help those with serious head injuries.
Fanelli adds "I've definitely learned in the past couple of years that life will throw things at you that you don't want and not everything works out the way you want it to."
