By Annette Francis
APTN National News
Gatineau – Former NHL enforcer Gino Odjick says he’s being released from a Quebec hospital Wednesday afternoon where he’s been receiving treatment for post-concussion syndrome and plans to immediately go for a sweat.
The Algonquin tough guy was recently admitted to Pierre Janet Hospital, a hospital for patients suffering from mental health illnesses, in Gatineau, Que.
“I am just suffering through some major headaches right now,” Odjick, 43, told APTN National News who reached him on the phone Wednesday morning. “That’s why I retired because of the post-concussion syndrome.”
Odjick retired in 2002 following a career spanning more than a decade in the NHL playing in 605 regular season games and amassing 2,567 penalty minutes on four teams, including the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadians and Philadelphia Flyers.
He had more than 160 fights according to hockeyfights.com.
He said Thursday a sweat was being organized in Maniwaki after he is released.
“I am going to go see some medicine people in Maniwaki,” he said. “Do a sweat and get the medicine working and be able to be on my way and keep working at it.”
When asked if enough was being done for NHLers who suffer concussions Odjick said he didn’t know but counted himself lucky because of his Algonquin roots.
“I’ve been able to live with (post concussion syndrome). Not everybody has that benefit that I do,” he said.
@APTNAFrancis
