Mikael Renberg spent nine seasons in the NHL, making up one third of the legendary Legion of Doom line together with Eric Lindros and John LeClair in Philadelphia.
The Swede played a total of 728 games putting up 502 points. But even though he was producing points, the thing he definitely was well known for was his fighting spirit and toughness.
If no one would believe him, let’s look back on what happened on April 6th 1997.
The Flyers faced the Senators when a scary accident occured, just seven seconds after the opening faceoff. Renberg was accidentally kicked in the face by Randy Cunneywort’s skate and fell to the ice.
The Swede was loosing blood quickly. Even though it was a scary incident he skated of the ice on his own and was taken to the hospital.
Renberg had to repair the laceration all the way from his chin to his nostrils. In total, he received over 200 micro-stitches.
“Like a surgeon’s scalpel,” Flyer physician Dr. Gary Dorshimer said. “It’s as bad as I have seen and I have been with the team since 1984.”
The next day, Renberg said it could’ve been much worse.
“I’m glad I’m a guy with a wife and kids who doesn’t have to worry about how he looks.”
48 hours after the accident, Renberg was going to shock his teammates. All of a sudden he turned up to practice at the team’s training facility.
However, the Flyers decided to not let him play for the remainder of the regular season since his wounds had to heal.
He was ready when playoff season started and the Flyers almost made it all the way, being swept by the Red Wings in the final.
But even though they lost, the fans will definitely remember Mikael Renberg as a real fighter. What a guy!
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