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VANCOUVER — Pilot Mounds Delaney Collins is itching to take off her brilliant golden jersey. The veteran defenceman on the Canadian women’s hockey team glows like the sun among a sea of red, white and black during practices at the Hockey Canada Cup. The jersey’s colour is a caution sign so her teammates take it easy around her as the 32-year-old continues her frustrating battle with a concussion. Collins, who has represented Canada in five world championships, isn’t playing in the Olympic test event this week. She’s waiting until the middle of September before she plays her first game of the 2009-10 season. “I never thought it would take this long and I’m disappointed it took this long,” Collins said prior to Canada’s game against Finland on Tuesday. “At the same time I just feel I’m more ready now than I ever thought I could be. Physically I feel great and emotionally I am dying to play hockey. I’m dying to help this team.’ Collins was skating full-out into the corner during Canada’s game against a Moncton Midget AAA team last October when her skate caught an edge and she hit her head hard as she went down. Not realizing how badly she was injured, the 5- foot-4, 130-pound defender didn’t miss a shift and continued to play for her women’s club team in Calgary for the next six weeks. “It wasn’t that obvious to me that I had a full-blown concussion,’ Collins said. ‘I knew I didn’t feel right and I'd hit my head really hard to the point where my ears were ringing and I had a funny taste in my mouth.” After consulting with two concussion doctors and a neurologist in Calgary, she realized just how serious her head injury was. She also discovered it would try her patience more than rehabilitation of a torn abdominal muscle she'd suffered just prior to the 2006 Olympics, missing the cut for that Canadian team. Collins wasn’t ready to play in a sixth world championship in April and it’s only been since June that she feels she’s made real progress. Despite having played in 88 career games for Canada, Collins is still looking to play in her first Olympics. “I don’t want to miss this opportunity to try out for this team,” said Collins. “ The Canadian Press Delaney Collins Delaney Collins knocks down a Russian at the 2005 worlds. (Fi/e photo)
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Brandon Sun
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Wed, Sep 02, 2009
Page 11
Full Page
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Manitoba H.
CA 17 Aug 2026
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