I think I was as sad as anyone today to see that former Gopher great and current Minnesota Wild Defensemen Keith Ballard decided officially to hang up his skates. It was something that everyone knew was probably going to happen after hearing that Ballard had suffered the fifth concussion of his ten-year NHL career, but still most of us were hoping that he might be able to pull it back together and make it back.
For me the tragedy of Ballard’s exit from the game is still something that reminds us all that hockey is indeed a violent sport, so when something like this happens it’s best to celebrate the player’s achievements and not dwell on their demise.