There was this nice little Jonas Gustavsson article/interview on hockeybladet.se couple days ago. Here's the same in something that should be English...Problem can come back
"Monster" about heartproblems and debutseason
Despite two heartoperation he played 42 games in debutseason in NHL. When "Monster" goes back to Toronto after holiday has newcomer became a star.
Meet Jonas Gustavsson in an interview on lazy sommardays, nickname that lingers and risk for new operation.
- Problem can come back, says he.
September 11th 2009. It's the first day of Toronto's NHL camp. During a test starts Gustavsson suddenly feel dizzy and is about to faint. Jonas sits on trainingcycle when the heartbeat suddenly raced.
An ambulance took the goalie to the hospital and for day later they dis a simple surgery in which the tissue that disrupted his heartbeat was burnt away.
December 1st 2009. Jonas Gustavsson is in Toronto's net in the Canadian pretigious meeting against Montreal. After first period in Bell Centre he is forced to give up - heart symptoms are back.
Three days later Gustavsson is operated in Toronto and is out of the game further two weeks.
"Clearly one is thinking"
"Monster's" debutseason was dramatic to say the least and many outsiders became worried about his health. But the protagonist himslef was never worried.
- It's obvious that one is thinking about what's happening when heartbeat races away and pulse doesn't go down. But at the same time there were doctors there. I didn't have time to become worried.
"How much you think about that nowadays?"
- Not so much. They have taken away the tissue that was disrupting heart and it should be fine now. But at the same time no one can guarantee anything (coughAlfredssoncough*).
- The hardest part was not be be able to be on the ice. I missed my entire first camp. It made no difference to if I said so. But instead I got to fight double when I came back, says Stockholmer (?) who is right now on the second half of a long sommer holiday.
- I have taken the opportunity to take it easy. Since there has been some sun shine, swimming and grilling. And golf.
"So, what's your handicap?"
- Haha, that you won't write on the paper.
"Come on..."
- Okey, fine. It's 15. I've played some during the summer but haven't lowered it. But I've been close to...
"You got to play 42 games during your debut season. How do you see the year now with some perspective?"
- I'm satisfied. I took a place in NHL team, got to be with Olympic team and won bronze at the Worlds, says Gustavsson who signed 2 year contract with Toronto last spring.
- For me it was important that it became a oneway contract. It shows that they believe in me.
Now he is a star
"Monster"expects that the team blows of holiday in the end of August in order to reassemble the squad.
- I feel loaded. It's coming closer.
After breakthough season in 2008/2009 in Färjestad, Jonas Gustavsson was able to pick and choose among the NHL offers.
Men väl på plats i Kanada fanns inga genvägar för att slå sig in i laget.
This time the situation is different.
Newcomer has become a star.
- The biggest difference when I go there this time is that I come there and know what's the case. Last time it felt a bit like I was there on a trip. In this way, it's nice.
"And now you are aiming to be the number one goalkeeper?"
- I don't think about that so much. It is about helping the team and winning matches. In the end you're left at number one. But it's very tough competition with Jean-Sébastian Giguere. He has one year left on contract and is a very good goalkeeper. We help each other a lot.
"Imagine you're sitting with a big red button in front of you. If you press it, all journalists will stop your nickname. What do you choose, press or not?"
- I don't know. I'm not bothered by it. But I don't call myself that directly, says "Monster".
*CAUTION! Was not in original Swedish version.
