Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Injured Montreal captain Gionta: “It’s hard not being out there”

Brian Gionta

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brian Gionta celebrates his first-period goal against the Boston Bruins during a first-round NHL hockey playoff game in Boston, Thursday, April 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

AP

While his recovery from a torn bicep is reportedly going well, recent words and actions from Brian Gionta suggest there’s still a long way to go.

The Montreal captain appeared at a function this week to hand out bursaries to 28 young hockey players, during which recipients were told Gionta couldn’t exert himself when it came to congratulatory handshakes.

That, along with Gionta’s comments afterward, confirms the injury has taken it’s toll.

“I’m there every day for treatment and I’m talking to the guys, but it’s hard not being out there,” he told the Montreal Gazette. “It’s been a tough season. We got off to a slow start and we’ve had some tough luck, but nobody in that room has given up.”

Tough season is an understatement. Gionta’s been limited to 38 games after suffering a lower-body injury early in the year; the torn bicep has kept him out of action since Jan. 10.

“It was a routine play along the boards and I just felt it pop. I tried to play another shift, but I knew I was hurt,” he said. “I’m hoping that I’m going to play again before the end of the season, but I don’t have a timetable.”

Gionta underwent surgery to repair the bicep on Jan. 11.