Brandon is getting better
He says he is getting better.
He says he is close to returning to the lineup of the Soo Thunderbirds.
Rookie defenceman Brandon Grandinetti has been on the sidelines since suffering a concussion in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League game on January 5.
To be sure, the youngster is taking a cautious approach to returning to action as per the advice of his family doctor, Phil Catania.
“I am getting closer to playing again,” said Grandinetti.
Headaches associated with having a concussion affected Grandinetti in the days after the mishap to the point that he had to stay away from school.
“I stayed home and rested a lot and stayed out of the light,” explained Grandinetti, a Grade 12 high school student at St. Mary’s College.
“It was tough having to stay home and to not be around my friends at school and at the rink,” Grandinetti continued. “But I am feeling a lot better now.”
Grandinetti, a 5-foot-10, 160 pounder, has had a good first season in the NOJHL with the Thunderbirds.
He has played in 31 games with 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points and has received praise from Thunderbirds general manager Kevin Cain.
“He’s a good player and has adapted to the NOJHL quicker than we thought he would,” Cain said of Grandinetti, who played two seasons at the AAA midget level with the now-dormant Soo North Stars.
Grandinetti said he “can’t wait” to return to the lineup of the first-place Thunderbirds, who have won 22 straight games.
“I like our team and I like playing in the NOJHL,” said Grandinetti. “I just want to get back on the ice and hopefully help our team win a championship.”
The Thunderbirds take on the Elliot Lake Bobcats tonight in a 7 p.m. match at Rankin Arena on Batchewana First Nation.
(Photo by Jim Egan.)