Fanelli Makes Strides With Head Strong Program

October 30th, 2009 will be one day that the Kitchener Rangers, and their fans, will always remember.

It was 2-0 for the Rangers in the second period of a match against the Erie Otters when 16-year old defenseman Ben Fanelli skated back into his own zone for the puck.

As he reached the puck, Fanelli spun and started the breakout out of his own zone.  Little did he know that the Otters forward – Mike Liambas – was coming from the other direction.  Liambas made contact with Fanelli, who hit his head off of the partition in the glass behind the net.  Fortunately for Fanelli, his head did not hit the ice, however, he was stretchered off immediately, and his future in hockey jeopardized.

Fast forward a year and a half later, and Fanelli has made solid progress in his attempt to return to the game of hockey.

The next step is Ben’s development of the program ‘Head Strong, Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness.’

His goal is to raise awareness about brain injuries and raise funds for the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC).  Fanelli feels that through the program, he will be able to help out other people that went through what he did.

One of the most inspiring parts of the story is the support that the Rangers organization is showing on behalf of Ben and the program.

Even if it is a little bit of tough love at certain times.

“Our job now is to support him and kick him in the butt,” said Rangers GM and coach Steve Spott after last Friday’s game against Owen Sound.  “I told him ‘you’d better finish this, you signed up for it.’  As a coach, I’m going to be hard on him because I want him to realize he’s put himself on the front burner now and he has to back this up.”

While in some cases it’s the organization that comes up with the idea for programs like this for their players to get behind, Head Strong was pushed 100% by Fanelli.

“It was Ben’s idea.  This isn’t something that the Rangers went to him on,” said Spott.  “It’s an opportunity for him to focus in on something.  Physically he’s in phenomenal shape, but mentally this is a real boost and a challenge for him.”

And it won’t just be Spott pushing Fanelli to finish what he’s started.  Two of his teammates – Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Murphy – will be helping in the process.

“It’s great,” said Spott.  “Those are the three amigos, the three stooges, and they run off the ice together.  They know it’s not going to be an easy task and there’s going to be some days where they have to bark at him to keep moving.”

The culmination of all of Ben’s hard work will be his participation at a triathlon in Milton, Ont. in three months time.  He will be collecting pledges in support of the BIAC.

If all goes well, the focus will then become preparing for next season, which Spott believes shouldn’t be a problem.

“He’s shown no symptoms at all,” said Spott.  “He’s skated hard, been through off-ice workouts, on-ice workouts and he’s gone through the concussion protocol.”

Spott says there are a few more things that need to be taken care of, but are hoping for the best with Ben.

“Our plan now is to jump through some medical hoops, but the plan is training camp.  We’re all looking forward to getting him back for training camp.”

To donate to the BIAC and support Ben, visit: http://biac-aclc.ca/en/donate/