EVZ defender Gross’ jaw was shattered
Comeback on the ice with baby food
EVZ defender Nico Gross breaks his jaw three times after being hit by a puck. After a break of almost two months, he is celebrating his comeback – with a special helmet and after feeding with a straw.
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EVZ defender Nico Gross is back with jaw protection.
There are ugly scenes that take place on November 5th in Zug’s Bossard Arena. EVZ defender Nico Gross is hit in the face by a shot by Kloten talent David Reinbacher. Gross falls onto the ice, holds his hands in front of his blood-soaked face. He is transported to the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital.
Later it turned out that the 22-year-old suffered a multiple jaw fracture – something that Gross noticed when the puck hit it: “I noticed immediately that everything was broken,” Gross told the “Zuger Zeitung”. He cannot speak, his lower jaw is split. The day after the hit, Gross’ jaw had to be repaired in a six-hour operation. Metal plates are used to hold the bones together.
Special production on the helmet
Two months after the nasty hit, Gross is back on the National League ice. In the 8-1 win in Ajoie, Gross is back on the field for the first time. But only with a special jaw protection on the helmet. At least until the end of the season, Gross will have to wear the custom-made helmet, after which the metal plates will be removed and he can take off his helmet.
The road to the comeback is going according to plan, but it’s not easy. In the first two weeks he has to take in all food in liquid form and through a straw.
A scar remains
Then he can switch to soft-boiled pasta, gnocchi and mashed potatoes: “A pleasant feeling,” as he says. “That’s when I realized how nice it is to bite into something,” says Gross, happy about the solid food. He later keeps fit with strength training and occasionally does individual training on the ice. Because of fitness training and food like for babies, he loses a whopping five pounds.
Now he’s back, almost like the old man – only with a special helmet and a small scar on the left side of his face. (hon)
National League 22/23
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