By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Pete Gilbert had seen his son get hurt before. So initially Friday night, he wasn’t overly concerned. When his son, Lewiston Maineiac Colby Gilbert, got hit and landed harshly against the boards, he thought it was nothing more than a stick to the face at first.

“I had taken Colby off the ice before when I was coaching him years ago,” said Pete Gilbert. “He crashed into the net. He had actually lost consciousness. That was scary, but those were little kids. These are adults and the impact is that much greater. I don’t wish that upon anyone.”

Gilbert can look back on the experiences he and his family have endured the last two days with a sense of relief now.

After crashing headfirst into the boards at Drummondville, Colby Gilbert received more positive news Sunday. A visit with team doctor, Paul Cain, determined that Colby had not broken any bones and had suffered only muscle and ligament strains. Colby, moving gingerly, and his relieved father were at the Colisee Sunday to watch the Maineiacs regular season finale.

“He pretty much confirmed that the muscles and tendons that run down your spinal cord have been shocked and stressed,” said Pete Gilbert. “That’s why he’s in a lot of pain right now.”

Colby admitted that the turmoil he’s been through could have been worse, but he’s not feeling all that chipper, despite the more optimistic prognosis.

“I’ve been better,” he said. “I feel better, but I still don’t feel very good.”

Gilbert was injured when Drummondville forward Guillaume Latendresse collided with him from behind. Colby was sent sprawling headfirst into the boards. His parents were there as part of a Maineiacs fan bus trip.

“I saw the hit,” said Pete. “I want to review the tape with the coach, but from what I saw, the guy went stick first and then finished up with his hand to the back and fell forward. Someone else had hit him. It almost looked like his own teammate. They got tangled, and they fell on Colby. He wasn’t able to give himself protection and stop the impact. He went sliding into the boards head first.”

Anyone that follows Maine hockey is aware of Travis Roy and his horrific spinal cord injury. As a Boston University player, Roy was paralyzed when he was routinely checked into the boards.

“That was the first thing that popped into my head,” said Colby. “When I hit the boards and I heard it crack, that’s the first thing I thought off.”

For Pete Gilbert, he could certainly relate to Lee Roy, Travis’ father, who was on hand that fateful evening when his son was injured.

“At first, I thought someone’s stick got him in the face,” said Pete. “Then when they laid him over, and the trainer went out and they called paramedics, I knew it was something more serious.”

Pete looked on from ice level as they tended to Colby on the ice.

“The place was a nuthouse and full,” said Gilbert. “I started to get overwhelmed and feeling anxiety. I thought I was going to vomit momentarily. Thank God when the ambulance came, they opened up the door, and I could get some clear air because I wasn’t going to make it.”

Initial x-rays proved negative but Colby had to remain in the hospital until Saturday for a cat-scan. Around noon Saturday, a doctor informed them that no broken bones had been found, and Colby was able to sit up and free to remove the neck collar he’d been wearing for 14 hours.

“That grin started coming across his face,” said Pete. “He was pretty happy. He was sore and stiff. He had been pretty frightened.”

Colby says his future is still in question. There is a chance he could return to action soon or not play hockey again at all. It will depend on how his recovery progresses.

Though he was glad to be back at the rink Sunday, he would have rather have been on the ice with his team.

“I’m obviously relieved and happy that the x-rays have come out negative, but it feels awful to go through that experience. I never wanted to be wheeled off the ice on a stretcher at any point in my career. It’s not a good experience to have.”