Tri-City Herald: Americans forward thankful to be back on the ice

By Annie Fowler | Tri-City Herald

Neal Prokop gathered in the puck, skated down the boards and hit his teammate with a perfect pass across the slot.

It was just practice and it was a routine drill, but after sitting on the sidelines for eight months with the possibility of never playing hockey again, it was a lot to be thankful for.

The Tri-City Americans forward broke his left femur March 23, just 1:02 into Game 3 of the first round of the 2010 Western Hockey League playoffs against the Chilliwack Bruins.

And Wednesday night, eight months and a day since his injury, Prokop played his first game, against the Seattle Thunderbirds at ShoWare Center in Kent — a 5-4 Tri-City victory in a shootout.

It felt relly good,” said Prokop, who assisted on Jordan Messier’s game-tying goal in the third period. “Within the first 10 strides I hit a guy and that got me into the game. I’m happy with my first game back, and we won too, which is good.”

Prokop, 20, who joined the team in Brandon during its swing through the East Division in early October, has spent the last six weeks conditioning and getting his confidence back on the ice.

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