THE CANADIAN PRESS
QUEBEC — Mikael Tam says he is determined to play hockey as soon as possible despite being "very scared" after the nasty hit to the head he took in a recent Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game.
"Over the last few days, I have lived through the most difficult moments of my life," the Quebec Remparts defenceman told a news conference in Quebec City on Friday.
Tam, 18, said he can’t specifically remember last Sunday’s elbow to the head from Rouyn-Noranda Huskies centre Patrice Cormier but that he does recall being very frightened after suffering brain trauma from the hit.
"When I was in emergency and I was asking myself where I was, and I didn’t know why I was in this condition, I was scared, very scared," he said in a calm voice, his mouth missing several teeth that were knocked out on impact.
"When I regained consciousness, I had no recollection of what had happened."
Remparts president Claude Rousseau told the news conference no decision has yet been made on whether legal action would be launched against Cormier, who served as captain of Canada’s team at the world junior championship.
Any such decision, he said, will come from Tam and his family.
Rousseau said the two players have not yet spoken, although Huskies management tried to get in touch with Tam.
The league is expected to announce sanctions against Cormier on Monday. He has been suspended indefinitely since the incident.
The Remparts filed a complaint and Quebec provincial police in Rouyn-Noranda are investigating whether there are grounds for criminal charges against the 19-year-old Cormier.
Tam said the first thing he asked himself was whether he would walk again. Then he wondered whether his friends and family would still be there for him.
"But, over and over, the question that kept coming back was whether I would be able to play hockey again."
He said he has received support from as far away as Russia.
"I don’t know how long I will be out of action," he said. "I suffered brain trauma and lost teeth.
"I just want to play again. I am a winner. I am a determined person and I will do everything I can to come back as soon as possible."
The hit was widely criticized as a cheap shot around the hockey world, including among NHL players, and even drew a reaction from Quebec Premier Jean Charest in the national assembly.
In overtime of Quebec’s 3-2 shootout win in Rouyn-Noranda on Sunday afternoon, Cormier crossed the ice to drop Tam with an elbow while the Quebec rearguard was skating through the neutral zone.
Tam went into convulsions before he was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher and taken to hospital, where he underwent two brain scans before he was released on Monday night.
