Interview with Matt Gillard

By John Burd

I chatted with Matt Gillard who despite breaking a vertebrae in his neck earlier in the season still aims to get back on the ice as soon as humanly possible.

You’ve been out of action for a large part of the season, for those who may not remember can you tell everyone what happened?

Yeah it was the middle of October, October 15th actually, we were just playing Hamilton. It was the first period I think it was. I had just scored and then just a normal play, kind of a forecheck, I went to come around, just finishing my check, and the guy kind of backed off and I just went over him. I went head-first into the boards and ended up breaking my C6 vertebrae and also broke my facet joint and then it came around into my lamina. 

That’s crazy. What was that like for you in the moment? Did you know that there was something wrong?

Not really at the time. Like it was kind of a bit of both because my one arm was pretty numb and not really working to well so it was a little off but I just kind of thought i’d jerked my back pretty hard and was just really tight. I didn’t really think it was too serious. Even when Dobber [Pete Dobbin] came out with the stretcher I didn’t really want to take the stretcher. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal but then it turned out to be kind of a big deal. 

What was the rehab process like for you?

Still going through it right now. I just got my neck brace off two months ago so it’s pretty much everyday just trying to get neck movement back really. Now it’s been more getting into strength.

Are you just doing light workouts right now?

Uh, the last little bit i’ve been starting to ramp up the intensity a little bit. The pain has been a little bit but i’m trying to work through that too so we’ll see. 

After the injury did you think your season would be over or did you have that mentality of “i’m going to do whatever I can to get back for the regular season or the playoffs”?

Yeah for sure, I mean right when the doctor told me he told me originally it would be about six months for recovery and that would be right around when playoffs were starting. So my original goal was to try to cut that down to around four months, four and a half months. It was a little harder than I thought. When I first got the neck brace off I was really confident like thinking I could get back but it’s been tough.

You were having a pretty good start to the year (six points in the first eight games). What was it like for you to get off to such a good start then hear that you would be out for such a long period of time?

Yeah it kind of even started happening last year. I finished the season last year pretty well and then the first game of playoffs I got hit and got a concussion and I was done for the rest of the season then also. It was kind of the same thing this year so it was a big bummer for sure, especially to start strong and coming off the summer and working really hard. 

What are you most looking forward to about your return?

Uh right now i’m just focused more on physio right now. I kind of have to get through the summer so i’m more worried right now about getting myself into regular physical shape and then worried about hockey afterward. 

Do you think you’ll be able to play in the playoffs?

Playoffs i’m not too sure. It kind of depends on how physio goes. It would have to speed up a little bit right now just because of pain-wise and even getting back into game shape would be tough right now.

When you return do you think you’ll be more nervous or excited?

Excited for sure. I think for sure, especially back to Niagara I would be more excited. I don’t think much nerves at all. Especially coming back to the Meridian Centre. I’ve been here for quite a few years so I would definitely just be more excited than anything. 

What have you missed the most about not playing? Is it the fact that you’re just not playing or is it not being around the guys as much?

It’s both of course, I mean I would say probably more being on the ice. I just miss the competition and just battling guys and scoring goals and all that kind of stuff and the ups and downs. But I mean definitely not being around the guys all the time is different for sure, definitely miss being around them everyday all the time. 

Are you allowed to lightly skate or anything or not quite yet?

Uh, i’ve skated twice just really lightly, not even full gear. It’s just been kind of light. I mean with pucks and stuff right now i’m having issues with my shoulders and back so i’m worried right now more about just getting movement back first.

Alright well that’s it for those questions, now i’m just going to ask some more silly questions. I’m going to give you a word/phrase and I want you to give me either a thumbs up or thumbs down. We’ll start with ‘selfies’.

*Thumbs down*

Dabbing.

No. *thumbs down*

The bachelor.

Nope. *thumbs down*

Country music?

Nope [laughs]. *thumbs down*

We’re off to a good start! Donald Trump?

Uh, I don’t know. Little bit of both. I like some perspectives but some I do not like. 

So we’ll say that one is like sideways?

Yeah.

Phone calls as oppose to texting?

Yeah, yeah it’s a lot easier. *thumbs up*

Sweat pants.

Oh 100% yeah. *thumbs up*

Working out.

Oh yeah for sure. *thumbs up*

Now if you guys were on the road and the team bus blew a tire in the middle of nowhere who would be the teammate who would try to find a solution to the problem?

Oof, maybe ‘Frusc’ [Anthony DiFruscia] just because he’s captain. I feel like he’d jump in their pretty quick, try to settle the situation down and figure it out. But I think the coaches would for sure take over but Frusc would probably jump in there. 

Who would just sit back and let everyone else do the work?

Um, maybe ‘Sangy/Sanger’ [Ho-Sang]. Yeah, probably Sanger. 

Who would get out and start walking? Just to blow off some steam he just starts walking away.

Maybe ‘Hayds’ [Aaron Haydon]. Yeah he could get pretty fired up.

Who would get their stick out and start playing on the side of the road?

Maybe ‘Siebs’ [Blake Siebenaler]. He and our trainer ‘Dobber’ are always playing games like baseball all the time so probably them. 

Lastly who would just get emotional or frustrated? Would anyone just start freaking out? 

Uh, I don’t think there are too many guys like that on the team. No I think everyone is pretty cool. 

This was the end of my chat with Matt, a warrior to say the least. Not many individuals could/would come back after such a serious injury but his passion for the game has pushed him to do his best when it comes to getting back out on the ice. After a tough year Gillard didn’t feel pity for himself but rather he was eager to put in necessary hard work so that he can come back (most likely next year) and help the IceDogs have yet another solid year.