Hobbins working toward the future

Just over two minutes into the second period of the Idaho Steelheads? game on Febuary 8 against the Alaska Aces, the puck rolled out of the Idaho defensive zone, past Alaska defenseman Benn Olson, near the Aces bench. Sensing an opportunity to counter-attack, Idaho forward Tyson Hobbins saw the puck roll by and began to chase it into the neutral zone. Olson, sensing he was in trouble, threw on the brakes and tried to turn around. As he did, his knee jutted out and clipped Hobbins. The collision sent Hobbins sprawling to the ice with an injured knee. The season was over for the popular rookie from Nipawin, Saskatchewan. ?I knew, if I got by him (Olson), Purvy (Cody Purves) and I had a two-on-one break,? Hobbins said. ?I thought it was just a stinger at first but, once I got to the dressing room, I couldn?t bear any weight on it and the doctor took one look at the knee and knew I had blown the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).? It was a rough moment for the 24-year-old Hobbins. ?I remember being incredibly upset and mad, knowing that a torn ACL meant the end of my year and possibly my career.? Hobbins continued. Fast-forward a little over four months to mid-June. Hobbins, who stayed in Boise to have knee surgery and begin his injury rehab, is still uncertain what the future holds. ?I?m evaluating a few different options,? he said from Detroit, MI, where he continues his rehab. ?As it looks right now, with my knee, I won?t be ready for the start of the season.? It?s not for lack of effort. After working with Idaho?s trainer, Jason Switzer, for more than two months after the injury, Hobbins has been doing his rehab work in Michigan with Dave Boyer, a former athletic trainer with the NHL?s Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers along with the NBA?s Detroit Pistons. ?Things are slowly coming along,? he said of the rehab. ?It?s a long process.? The process has given him time to consider his future, which could include a shift from playing hockey to coaching hockey. ?I?m looking at all my options to make a decision that is best for my career,? Hobbins said. Whether the path keeps him in a jersey on the ice or puts him behind the bench in a shirt and tie, Hobbins looks fondly back at his time in Idaho which, to this point, is the only place where he played pro hockey. He skated in a total of 40 games after signing with Idaho late in the 2010-11 season out of Lake Superior State. His first professional goal was a game-winner in the 2011 players, helping Idaho advance past the Las Vegas Wranglers and into the ECHL?s Western Conference semifinals. He added six points in 29 games this past season, including a one-goal/two-assist night in Utah on January 16. ?Boise is a great city and the Steelheads are a great organization that has treated me awesome in my season and a bit there,? Hobbins concluded. ?I couldn?t have asked for a better place to play.?