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30 WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH CONCUSSIONS, TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS WHAT'S THE ? Rush By JIM LEITNER DECEMBER. 2015 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF United States Hockey League JUNIOR YOUTH PRO Jakob Romo was well on his way to earning a roster spot with the Dubuque Fighting Saints after leading the team in plus/minus and holding a share of the team scoring lead in the preseason. But things quickly began to unravel when the undrafted forward from Fullerton, Calif., hit his head on the ice during an exhibition game. Eager to get back on the ice, Romo tried to return to physical activity before feeling com- pletely symptom free. The result was that he ended up sitting out the entire 2014-15 season, and didn't feel right until the following spring. "To a certain extent, I felt like I had to be playing to make the team," says Romo, who com- mitted to Arizona State University prior to this, his final season of Junior hockey eligi- bility. "But probably the main thing is hockey means everything to all of us. It's hard to take yourself away from it, even for a little bit." Hockey has made great strides when it comes to diagnosing and treating concus- sions. It starts with changing the mindset that playing through the hazy pain of a concussion is the macho thing to do. Or that sitting on the sidelines is in some way letting your teammates down. Romo knows firsthand that neither belief could be further from the truth. "If I could go back and change how I approached it, for sure I would," Romo admits. "You have to make sure everything's good to go before you play. It's bet- ter in the long run to make sure you're fine and sit out a few more weeks than it is to come back early, especially from something as serious as a concussion." R o m o r e m a i n e d i n Dubuque for several weeks after the injury before even- tually returning home for the remainder of the season. "It was really frustrating being around the guys and having to watch them do every- thing. And it was really frustrating to be back at home instead of with my team," says Romo, who dealt with a lower body injury to begin this season. "It really made me appreciate hockey. Even with this injury this year, I didn't want to rush back before I was ready. I don't want to have to go through what I did last year again." N "IF I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE HOW I APPROACHED IT , FOR SURE I WOULD."