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There were four minutes remaining in third period.

All the long hours I spent at the gym and in the rinks this summer seemed to just slip down the drain. A fifth-degree shoulder separation would hold me out of the lineup for the majority of the first half of the season.

Late in a shift in the third period in our first pre-season game, I cut across the blueline. With both teams mid-change, there was a lot of ice in the neutral zone, or so I thought. I remember getting the pass and one-touching it to my other winger.

It felt as if the second I got rid of the puck, I was hit by a train. The impact was made from the back side of my right shoulder. I never saw him coming.

A loud crunch, sudden numbness in my hand and the feeling like there was a hot coffee spilled directly on my right shoulder, were some of the immediate effects that instantly told me something was wrong.

Fear, frustration, and anger.

I was in the dressing room while our trainer tried to diagnose the problem. At the time, I still had my full range of motion and zero pain. I was starting to think I was going to be fine.

Then I removed my compression shirt only to find what looked like a golf ball on my shoulder. My heart sank and a few choice words may have been said. I knew when I saw it, there was a serious problem.

A few hours later at our hospital, I was told that surgery would be mandatory. I was then hit with a bunch of nerves — uncertainty of the surgery process, along with the timeline I was given was a lot to take in.

I was four minutes away from starting the season alongside my team, but instead I would be at home recovering from surgery that took place the day before our season-opener.

Surgery went well, or at least better than I thought. A three-inch metal hook plate, along with four screws, would keep my collarbone and shoulder together so my torn ligaments would heal properly. Even though protocol has removal six months after surgery, my doctor is allowing the plate to stay in until our final game this season. So, the longer the better.

The most frustrating part had to be how prepared I was for the coming season. Long, hard hours with trainer Matt Blanchard and a group of local hockey players had me at what I thought would be the top of my game.

But after the hit, it was time to start over. I tried to be as positive as possible, and told myself this was a perfect opportunity to further strengthen my legs and increase foot speed.

Slowly, things have gotten better. I have been lucky enough to have great doctors, medical staff, coaches and family that have been very supportive and encouraging in my recovery process.

I have started rehab and am little by little regaining movement. This week, I was lucky enough to lace them up with the boys for a couple of practices for the first time in six weeks.

During the next four to six weeks I will be going through range of motion exercises and strengthening workouts so I can get back to playing as soon as my body allows it.

I know my physiotherapist, Dale, and other co-workers at PT Works will give me the best treatment to get everything back to normal, even though she is known for her painful healing. But until that happens, I will have to be as supportive and helpful from the stands.

Watching games from the stands is not an easy task for an athlete. Personally, I find it difficult when things are going wrong. I want to be the guy out there changing the momentum, but for now I have to wait.

When things are going good it is much easier, and lucky for me the guys are doing great.

This weekend, we head to out west with three games in three nights and the chance to take over first place. This will not be an easy feat, but I will do my best to make sure that happens from the stands.

Devan Turcotte is a forward in his third season with the junior 'A' Trappers.