Goalie overcomes brain injury

BY SCOTT HADDOW

Nothing is going to stop Max Bouffard from playing hockey or making an impact.

For the first four years of his hockey career, Bouffard, 13, played defence.

The youngster relished every moment and dreamed of making it big.

Three years ago, it all changed, at first for the worst, but then for the better.

Bouffard was playing in his school's gym when he fell hard and hit his head on the unforgiving floor.

He went for a CAT scan and it came back negative.

As the weeks went by, his parents noticed something was wrong, especially since for the first time in his life he was going to bed early.

He complained of poor vision, among other things, and eventually ended up going in for another CAT scan that revealed a startling discovery.

Bouffard had severe internal bleeding in his brain, which caused a subdural hematoma, which is bleeding into the space between the dura (brain cover) and the brain itself.

Bouffard had part of his skull, about the size of a hockey puck, removed by doctors in Ottawa during a five-hour operation to drain and eliminate the

blood clot.

He was left with over 100 staples and stitches in his head.

Bouffard was told he couldn't play contact sports anymore, which was a massive blow to the 10-year-old.

Still, he wanted to play hockey, and did. He switched his shin pads for goalie pads and became a goalie to continue playing the game he loved.

"I had no other choice but to play goalie if I wanted to keep playing hockey," said Bouffard. "It was scary stuff at first. My brain is more vulnerable, if it gets rattled, but it doesn't bother me at all."

In hockey, even though goalies are off-limits to body checks and the usual rough play, it can still be physical with players trying to score goals and crashing the net.

That doesn't weigh much on his mind either.

"I am not to concerned about anyone running me because I am almost a foot taller than everyone else," said the six-foot-two, 230-pound puck stopper. "I don't let it affect me...I just go out and play."

The ordeal had Max's parents on edge, but they are proud of what he's overcome and the support the family received from the community at the time.

"Max has worked hard," said his father Mark. "He knows he has to play catch up, but he sure is catching up fast. It was tough, but when we were in the hospital, there wasn't one team or organization that didn't send their well wishes, flowers and cards. It was touching and meant a lot to us."

Despite only playing goalie, a challenging position to learn and master, for three years, Max has come a long way and has become a bright, rising star.

He has helped his AAA Bantam Onaping Falls Huskies squad become one of the best teams in the Northern Ontario AAA Bantam Hockey League.

The team finished second overall with a stellar 26-8-0-0 record, in which Max, splitting duties with teammate Matthew Comber, forged a record of 9-3-1.

Max had the league's fourth best goals-against average with a 3.63 mark and was third in wins.

"I've had a good season being a minor playing up a year and it only being my third year as a goalie," said the Grade 8 Northern Elementary Academy student. "It's been a big learning experience. Everyone on the team is talented and works hard. They're all committed, so it helps. I've learned that I am a better goalie than a defenceman. It's more natural for me. It was meant to be because I've had a great season."

Bouffard is a major cog in the Huskies' machine.

"Max had the biggest learning curve of anyone on our team, coming from AA hockey and only being a goalie for a couple of years...It was overwhelming to him at times, but he stood up well to the test," said head coach Dave Bertholot. "He was a big part of our success this season. He has the will to succeed, he's mentally strong and he's intelligent."

Bertholot sees plenty of potential in the young goalie.

"He has a great ability to read the play and when he's aggressive, he's hard to beat," said the bench boss. "The only thing that hurts him right now is lack of experience. Max will play a supportive role in the playoffs...He brings a lot to the table though. He's pleasant in the dressing room, fun to be around and has a good sense of humour. It's nice to see a kid like that overcome a potentially life-threatening injury and succeed to play and realize his dream. We can all learn something from him."

The Huskies begin their quest for a NOBHL title and provincial championship this weekend against the Sudbury Bantam Wolves. Game One and Two

takes place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at the Levack Arena. Game times are 1 pm.