[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]
Even in the National Hockey League, they don’t come much tougher than Ian Laperriere.
The Philadelphia Flyers’ forward is sidelined indefinitely with “post concussion syndrome.” To keep “Lappy” off the ice … well, it’s just not easy.
In the first round of last year’s NHL playoffs, Laperriere through himself in front of a shot and took the puck square in his face. He suffered a concussion and a brain contusion, to go along with a broken nose. He required almost 70 stitches in his face, and was expected to miss the rest of the playoffs.
But for one of the toughest men to ever lace ‘em up in the NHL, missing the Flyers’ inspired playoff run was not an option. He returned to action in the Conference Finals against Montreal.
Laperriere isn’t on the ice right now, but he will be on the dais for the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s 107th annual Awards Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 31, 2011. For tickets, visit www.pswa.org.