Article from Örnsköldsviks Allehanda
It has been 39 days since Peter Forsberg called a press conference and said that he would take a "break" from hockey. Today he doesn't know how long he will be away from his beloved sport, but he does know that he will wait until his body has recovered, that he enjoys life and that he and his friends from MODO (currently playing in NHL) are planning on starting a children's fund. We are meeting a relaxed and happy Foppa. The world-class player who, with his press conference in the Globe Arena, shook the entire hockey world by announcing he needed time to heal his body. An announcement that was interpreted by many as a retirement… Peter is in the middle of his "break" and if anyone thinks that he will get an answer on when he will return to the ice is wrong. He doesn't know for sure himself. Currently he is at home in Örnsköldsvik, spending time with friends, watching TV, attending all MODOs home games, and just plain enjoying himself. Furthermore, he is involved in starting a fund for children in his area of the country together with former MODO players, all of who are current NHL players. They are all donating money for this fund.
OA- Hello, Peter. How are you??
PF- Very well, thank you.
OA- Physically as well?
PF- You mean if I'm in pain? No, I haven't done anything. I haven't practiced, just relaxed. Probably I will start training in about a month.
OA- Have you had a chance to take a step back and reflect on your decision?
PF- I have now. First I woke up in the morning thinking "Am I really that injured? Can't I play? Is it worth all the excitement"? Now I feel that I really made the right choice.
OA- Let's talk about the excitement your announcement created. Were you prepared for that?
PF- No. I'm mostly surprised that people thought I was retiring. That felt odd. I just want to get healthy and I can't play hockey now since I am injured. I stated that I was taking a leave of absence and I needed time to heal the body, yet it was a number of people who twisted it into me retiring. That's insane.
OA- And your body is not completely healed?
PF- My body can't take heavy training yet, and I am still experiencing pain in my stomach from the surgery. Also, I haven't been able to train properly the last three offseasons so I have some catching up to do. I also feel that I haven't produced the last two seasons, what saved me was producing some points on a very good team. My play has not been up to standard.
OA- Aren't you being a bit to self-critical?
PF- The last two years I have played one good match, against the Kings in the playoffs. Other than that I have been completely worthless. The ones who see me play and practice notice that. I have not produced anything!
OA -What has been the problem?
PF- I've been injured every summer and haven't been able to practice. For example, I love to play tennis but I couldn't play more than one game in three summers. Usually I use at most two pair of skates each season, the last season I had to use several more and my skating was poor.
OA- Aren't you putting too much pressure on yourself?
PF- No, I know what I can do and I haven't been close to that level for a long time. If I had been in an individual sport it would have shown that I was not prepared. What if i had been a highjumper and participated in a competition without practicing for three years?
OA- The night before the press conference, what was going through your head?
PF - I looked forward to this training camp immensely, but all didn't feel right. The decision was hard to make but right and I felt relieved afterwards.
OA- Were you worried about what coaches, players and fans would say?
PF- Yes I was but I know my body and I had to make this decision. My body is a mess and if certain journalists in the United States think that I chickened out, so be it. They don´t know how I feel.
OA- Will you return to hockey?
PF- I think so, but the body makes the decision on when. I love hockey but I know that I will get hits in the future, too, and to be able to take that I must be physically prepared.
OA- Will you be in the Olympics?
PF- Tournaments like that are few and far between, and it would be sad to miss out on the Olympics, but the body decides. If i'm not 100% healthy, I won't play.
OA- Will you be playing for MODO next season?
PF- Honestly I don't know anything about my hockey future. First I have to get completely healthy, then we will see.
OA- Is it good to be at home in Örnsköldsvik?
PF- It is! This Sunday I woke up at 11 am, had some lunch, and then laid on the sofa watching soccer.
OA- And you are in the middle of some project now?
PF- Yes, a fund for children or youth that is in need of economical or medical help. That´s all I can say right now.
