DIJON, FR – Hockey and injuries go together like white sand and sunburns. But some of those injuries just make the hair stand up on the back of your neck when you think about them; usually the ones involving sticks and steel.
Such is the case of Filip Bjork, defenseman for the Dijon Ducs of France’s Ligue Magnus. “A player tried to hit me and I moved out of the way,” Bjork told Pro Hockey News. “He stumbled on my leg, fell face-first on the ice, and his skate came up and hit me right in the mouth. I was really lucky that it didn’t cut my face open. But I got three fractures in my upper jaw, and two of my teeth were pointing straight into my mouth.”
A native of Sollentuna, SWE, Bjork’s adventures landed him in France at a tense and infamous time in the nation’s history. Bjork had 8 assists in his 14 regular season appearances with the 4th seed Dijon Ducs of the Ligue Magnus. In 3 playoff games he scored 3 assists before the bizarre injury forced him out for the remainder of the post season.
“When I first got here it was 2 weeks after the terrorist attacks occurred,” said Bjork. “Security was like it always is at the airport, but at the train station and public areas there were military and police officers everywhere. You could still feel the tension in the air and the worry if there were going to be more attacks. But at the same time it felt very safe because of all the extra security.”
Bjork is no stranger at all to injury. Prior to his playing in Dijon, he arrived in October in Pensacola to play three short games before the effects of a concussion ended his tenure with the Ice Flyers.
“I got an elbow to the side of my face at the end of a play and it knocked me out,” Bjork said. “I struggled for 3 weeks with the concussion and wanted to come back and play, but since I had 5 previous concussions the doctors wouldn’t clear me. It was really hard to hear. A specialist even told me that I should consider quitting hockey, but I felt I wasn’t ready to give it up. A few days later I got an invitation from Dijon.”
Bjork had a hard time relenting to leave the states, but says he decided to sign with the Ducs since he couldn’t get clearance to play in the SPHL. “I really respect (Pensacola) for how they took care of me and put my health and safety first,” says Filip. “The same goes for coach Rod Aldolff. He didn’t want to put me in a situation that would risk my ability to live a normal life after hockey. He is truly a great guy and a great coach. The Ice Flyers staff and players are class people who supported me through all of it.”
With 3 weeks remaining in the Ligue Magnus playoffs, Bjork will have to sit out whatever remains of the Ducs’ post season. “It will take 8 weeks for my jaw to heal,” says Bjork. “So I am waiting for all the papers to be signed and then fly home to Sweden to be with my family and friends while I recover and get ready for the next season.”
Photos courtesy of Vanessa Johnson and Filip Bjork
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