Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Concussion keeps Svoboda's return a mystery

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 9, 2001

It is still unclear when, or if, Petr Svoboda will be able to resume playing.

One thing is certain, though. When the Lightning opens camp Sept. 11 at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, the 35-year-old defenseman, who still has symptoms from a concussion sustained in December, will not be on the ice.

Head medical trainer Dave Boyer said the earliest Svoboda could resume practicing is at the end of October. And that is under the best of circumstances, including four weeks without symptoms (assuming that begins immediately) and then about six weeks of conditioning.

"And that is being conservative," Boyer said. "In no way is he symptom-free at this time."

General manager Rick Dudley said Svoboda, in the last year of a two-year deal that has an option for a third, will be an integral part of the team when he is healthy.

Still, Dudley acknowledged the uncertainty.

"Would I like to think Petr will come back? Absolutely," he said. "But do I have to prepare that Petr might not be back for a significant part of the season? Yes, I have to."

Dudley would not speculate on Svoboda's future.

"I don't think it serves any purpose until the doctor and Petr say, 'I'm ready to go' or 'I'm not ready to go.' " he said.

Svoboda could not be reached for comment. His agent, Doug Messier, said he knows Svoboda wants to play for the Czech Republic in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

"His health is the most important thing right now," Messier said. "I heard he intends to play so I have to take that as a pretty good sign."

KEEFE WILL REPORT: Right wing Sheldon Keefe, suspended last season for not accepting an assignment to the IHL's Detroit Vipers, said he will report to camp next month.

Keefe was upset and at one point said he would demand a trade because he did not feel he was given enough of an opportunity to stick with Tampa Bay. Keefe and Dudley met for breakfast this week at the Toronto airport and talked out their differences.

"He expressed to me that he has considerable interest in me succeeding in the Tampa Bay organization," said Keefe, who was visiting a Toronto hockey school when Dudley came to town on a scouting trip. "We just talked things out. Right now I'm just looking forward to getting to camp and doing whatever it is (coach) John Tortorella wants me to do to get onto the team."

Keefe, who had four goals in 49 games as a rookie last season, will start camp on the B squad and will have to work his way onto the A team, which will include Tampa Bay's top 30 players.

"He has to do some impressing," Dudley said. "We believe in a team concept, and when you do something we don't feel is good for the organization, there is a little bit of a price to pay."

MODIN IS OKAY: Boyer said left wing Fredrik Modin's irritated hip flexor muscle has responded to treatment and he should be ready for camp. The Lightning's leading goal scorer spent about two weeks in St. Louis working with team doctor Richard Lehman.

"He'll need treatment throughout the season," Boyer said. "It's just a maintenance program. It's not to be considered something that will keep him out of games."

ODDS AND ENDS: Fifty-four players are expected in training camp. ... John Torchetti will be a Lightning scout. A Tampa Bay assistant coach the past two seasons, he will be based in Boston and cover the northeast. ... Left wing Dimitri Bezrukov, drafted in the eighth round (259th overall), will play in Russia next season. Dudley hoped to get the 23-year-old in camp but said Bezrukov wanted another year in the Elite League. ... Defenseman Stan Neckar and wife Shawna had their first child, Ella Katherine, on July23. Right wing Matthew Barnaby and wife Christine had a girl, Taylor Rose, the same day. ... Defenseman Cory Sarich married longtime girlfriend Reagan Dibb on July 7. They honeymooned in Hawaii.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright