Antoski Cleared to Skate Again

Shawn Antoski seemed uncertain about what to say at first, so he cracked a joke at his own expense Friday morning.

“Did anybody find a lung out there?” he asked, breaking into a wide smile after his first workout with Mighty Duck teammates since the Nov. 24 car accident that almost took his life.

It didn’t take long for him to stop pretending to be short of breath and to adopt a more serious tone, however.

Antoski’s recovery from a skull fracture is ahead of schedule and he’s hopeful of returning to his familiar style as one of the NHL’s tough guys during training camp next September.

He is not expected to play again this season, which marks the end of his contract with the Ducks. He said he hasn’t given much thought to where he will play next season, but he would like to remain in Anaheim.

For now, he’s pleased to have received medical clearance to resume skating and to participate in light workouts. Friday, it meant passing and shooting pucks in drills designed to keep backup goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov sharp for his next start.

“You have no idea,” Antoski said when asked how it felt to be on the ice with his teammates again. “It’s amazing. This is definitely a confidence-builder.”

Of returning to the NHL, he added: “At this point, I’m thinking only of the short term. I’ve been told there’s no reason why I can’t resume playing. Now, it’s just a question of getting my body in tune and getting ready for training during the summer months.”

Antoski doesn’t expect to change his role as a hockey player, but he said the accident and particularly the recovery have taught him a valuable lesson.

“The lesson is to not take things for granted,” he said. “This puts things in perspective. I hope other people learn from this. Be happy with what you’ve got. To have visited sick kids in the hospital like I have, then to be the guy in the ward sends a powerful message.”