AFTER LONG RECOVERY, PEKAR READY TO GET BACK TO WORK
Oct 17, 2022By Suzie Cool
After taking the first question in the post-skate media availability following Monday’s practice at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester Americans forward Matej Pekar knocked on wood. Not wanting to jinx anything after finally being cleared to practice in a full-contact jersey after seven months of recovery from double shoulder surgery.
“It's been a while and I obviously missed the game and the guys, so it's great to finally get out of the rehab skating and be out there with the team. It’s obviously a little different, but it's great to be part of game situations and getting back at it,” stated Pekar when asked how nice it was to be back and going full throttle at practice today.
In 2021-22 with Rochester, Pekar registered three goals and three assists for six points in 47 games. It wasn’t until March 13 against the Syracuse Crunch that Pekar’s second season with the Amerks would come to a screeching halt due to a season-ending injury that ended up requiring double shoulder surgery and a long recovery process for the forward.
Seven months later and now Pekar is finally back to practicing with his team and he said the most important part of the entire recovery process was to simply stay positive.
“I would say stay positive,” said Pekar when asked what the most important part of his recovery was. “Just staying positive and doing the right thing, not rushing it, and doing exactly what the people tell you to do. I tried to follow the protocol as close as I could down to every word I got from the people here. I think that was the main thing; just stay positive and do the right thing.”
Back in the condensed 2020-21 COVID year, Pekar led all Amerks skaters and finished second among all American Hockey League rookies with 50 penalty minutes. While registering six points on one goal and five assists in 25 games, that output was enough to share the Most Improved Player award at the conclusion of his first season with Rochester.
While Pekar took the first 10-20 minutes of practice with caution, he was back to his old self in no time and didn’t feel the need to take look long to get readjusted to the game. However, it may be just a little bit longer until we actually see Pekar in a game but when we do he is more than ready for it.
“I'm just excited to play the game again in front of the fans and be out there with the guys,” explained Pekar when asked what he’s most excited for when he finally gets to play in a game again. “It's obviously been a while. So, yeah, that's what I'm probably the most excited about is to be out there with the guys and playing the game that I’ve loved since I was young.”