Geraldine Brophy/The Western Star
Ryan Salvis is seen in action for the Corner Brook Royals during the 2015-2016 Central West Senior Hockey League season. Salvis won’t be back with the Royals after a serious injury cut his season short and has now focused his energy on coaching.
Salvis was enjoying a great season with the Corner Brook Royals until he was seriously injured in Game 2 of the Central West Senior Hockey League final against the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts back in February.
His season was cut short because of a nasty hit he took compliments of Cataracts all-star defenceman Rodi Short at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium.
He suffered three broken ribs, had another four ribs cracked from the impact on the end boards and had concussion-like symptoms on top of it.
On Tuesday, Salvis said it has been a struggle trying to recover, but he’s seen a lot of progress over the past few weeks so he’s almost back to 100 per cent.
He always looks at his hockey career on a yearly basis by evaluating things over the summer, but this summer is an exception because it’s the first time he ever had to deal with a major injury.
His ribs are fine, but he’s still experiencing some discomfort at the point of impact on his shoulder blade that causes him to grimace from time to time.
“It’s still pretty tender and weak so I’m doing physio and massage,” he said.
Salvis enjoyed being a part of the Royals for a season, but he doesn’t see a return in the cards because it requires so much time and commitment to prepare for the level of hockey the league boasts and then there’s the beat of being a weekend warrior.
His playing career may very well be over, but it is really the beginning of a new adventure for him because he now has a chance to pursue coaching. Being behind the bench is something he wanted to look at when he was finished playing and that could fall into place sooner than he imagined.
He was heading to a meeting with the owner and coach of the Dieppe Commandos of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League moments after talking to The Western Star on Tuesday. He’s being interviewed for the head coaching job of the Commandos so he may not have to worry about a change of heart when it comes to lacing up the skates again.
“For me it’s a no-brainer to kind of just transition into coaching at this point,” he said. “If that’s the case then I just won’t have time to play hockey.”
If he gets the job with the Commandos, he promises a return to the province, but for a different reason.
“If I’m the head coach, I will be scouting the Rock, that’s for sure,” he said.
