Review/Update Winter 2013 - Lake Forest Academy

Back on the IceDoctors didn’t expect Tyler Madeley ’14 towalk before the end of hockey season last year,let alone be back on the ice. But Tyler, fueled byhis love of the sport, exceeded expectations.In October 2011, Tyler was clearing buckthorn (an invasivespecies) at a local forest preserve when a maple tree he andothers were moving started to slip. Tyler’s instinct kicked inand he tried to catch the tree. It landed on his foot and shatteredall of the bones and tore most of the ligaments.“I don’t really remember much of the next couple of weeksbecause I was on so many painkillers,” Tyler explains.After the swelling finally went down, a surgery placed 22screws and three plates in his foot and the long process ofhealing began.“Well, I get hurt so much I basically have my own orthopedicsurgeon,” Tyler explains, laughing, as he talks about the timeright after the injury.But, this injury was more severe and debilitating than anyTyler had faced in the past. So much so, it called into questionwhether he’d be able to skate again. Tyler, however, remainedoptimistic.“It was never really a question for me whether I’d play hockeyagain,” Tyler says “the doctors were really smart though,they told me that if I wanted to play I had to keep absolutelyall weight off my foot.”That time off the ice gave Tyler a new appreciation for thesport he loves.“It made me realize that if you love something, you shouldalways give it 100% because you never know if it’s going tobe taken away from you. Hockey is the best part of my day;when I was injured, the days were so long.”Fast forward to today and Tyler is back in fighting shape andenjoying an impressive year on the ice.Athletic Director Darrin Madeley is proud of Tyler as both aparent and a coach.“As a parent, the biggest victory was seeing him step on theice again. We never told him during the process that the doctortold us he would never be able to play hockey again dueto the damage to his foot. He really defied the odds with hardwork and perseverance. To this day, every practice or gameis a victory.”As a coach, Darrin notes that Tyler’s game has improved significantly,which was not something he was sure was goingto happen.“He has proven that he is a big key to our team. Being thecoach’s son is never easy, but he earns every shift and competesvery hard every game.”But, that’s not what matters most to Darrin as a parent or asa coach.“Going through what he went through makes him appreciatethe 2nd chance to play, and I am very proud of how heis mature enough to understand that. To me, that is far moreimportant than any game we have won,” he says.Agreeing with his coach, and dad, Tyler thinks the injury hasmade him a better player.“I had to spend so much time working on my legs and my balancethat I’m a better player now than I was before.”As for the lessons he’s learned and any advice he’d give aftergoing through this ordeal, Tyler says, simply: “Just appreciateeverything you have. That’s what I’ve taken away from this.Appreciation.” nsports shorts 13