Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.UNO goalie Ryan Massa returned to class and was given clearance to begin doing light cardiovascular work Thursday as he continues his recovery from a concussion suffered in last Friday's victory at Minnesota State-Mankato.
"Every day I'm making a lot of really good progress," said Massa, who said he felt symptom free Thursday morning.
Massa said he was hopeful of being able to play when UNO faces Bemidji State on Feb. 3 and 4, but his return depends upon the results of post-concussion testing. Progress is unpredictable. UNO doesn't play this weekend.
It was a scary scene last Friday when a Minnesota State player crashed into Massa in front of the UNO goal early in the overtime period.
Massa stayed motionless, face down on the ice before being put on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital. He was released after several hours of testing.
Massa said he's been told that he was unconscious on the ice for a couple of minutes before responding to questions. He doesn't remember that, though.
"I heard and felt the pop and the impact, and it was just dark from there," Massa said. "I don't remember anything from there other than coming to in the ambulance.
"I was pretty disappointed to wake up in the ambulance."
Massa can display a spot on the forehead of his facemask where the paint chipped away, the result of helmet-to-helmet contact.
"It looked pretty innocent," Massa said. "There was no intention by any means from Mankato or anything like that. It just looked like your average collision, guys crashing the net, and with the speed at the level we're playing, the impacts are pretty high."
Massa had just secured UNO's No. 1 goaltending position in a season-long competition for the job. He had started two consecutive games and would have started Saturday's series finale against MSU had he not been injured, UNO coach Dean Blais said.
"It's disappointing, but it's all part of the game," Massa said. "I was finally seeing some consistency and was feeling good. But I don't think this will hinder my performance coming back, and maybe I can return more rested and refreshed than I was before.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back to the team and to practice and to participating in full activities."
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