To say we miss seeing Nolan Patrick on the ice is an understatement. Nolan has not been on the ice for the Flyers since April 2, 2019. He has been suffering severe migraines.
Many Flyers fans and hockey fans in general have had their own thoughts about Patrick not playing because of a head injury. Some think he is being weak, because, ya know, he is a hockey player, which is a sport that is made of tough players. They think he needs to buck up, and suit up, when in reality he needs to take all the time he needs in order to heal.
Playing while you have chronic migraines really is not a good idea. It can turn into something worse in the future that could end his career well into his 20’s. And like any athlete I’m sure he wants to play until his legs give out. Just because he isn’t playing this season doesn’t mean he’s broken or will never play again. Think about Dallas Stars’ Stephen Johns. He was out for more than a single season with migraines, with time and treatment, he came back better than ever. These things take time.
My sister played soccer her entire life, it’s scary watching someone you love go through such a thing. You never know if it will turn into something else or when it’ll get better. The only thing that helped my sister when she had concussions was time and maintenance, and that is what will help Patrick.
He may not be an enforcer that puts himself in danger, but the constant hits to the head with hits and checks are not good for someone that has a migraine disorder. Like I said it takes time and maintenance, it won’t happen overnight. For everyone making highly insensitive comments about him, put yourself in his shoes or imagine that it’s your kid. Your child that plays a high contact sport then develops a migraine disorder over time. I would sure hope you get your kid the help they need, and allow them the time they need to heal.
You can even have a migraine without head pain. You can be dizzy and have nausea, yet have no head pain. You can have one that feels like you’re having a stroke, with aces and laziness in your body. You can easily lose vision in one eye. Migraines that last days, feel like you’re getting stabbed with an ice pick, pain behind your eyes, pain in your neck. This is a serious matter. To think or even say someone should continue to play a high contact sport while going through such a thing is ignorant. And who are we to assume what type of migraines he’s having.
In the meantime, all we can do is hope he continues to get healthier and get better. We wait, I know he wants to be on the ice just as bad as we want to see him out there. We should be giving him the same support we are and will continue to give Oskar Lindblom. Now we wait for the exhibition game on July 28th, and for the season to resume August 2nd (For the Flyers).
