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Brown nurses groin strain
By
LANCE HORNBY, QMI Agency
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TORONTO - Mike Brown is perhaps the most intimidating-looking of the Maple Leafs with his handlebar moustache and closely cropped haircut.
But the bruising winger’s face was beaming on Friday when the topic turned to his newborn son, Axel, who arrived a week ago in Toronto. It’s the fist child for Brown and his wife Katarina, who are both from the Chicago suburbs.
“Everyone talks about it, but until you experience it, it’s nothing like anyone says,” an enthused Brown said. “I was in the delivery room for everything and have to say it was the craziest, coolest thing in my whole life.
“(General manager) Brian Burke called to say congratulations and told me even though he has won the Stanley Cup, there has been nothing like the birth of his kids. That’s exactly how it is. Everything else went straight out the window for me.”
The only negative for Brown these days is a groin strain, a lingering problem from last season that required an off-season surgical procedure. Burke estimates Brown will be about a week behind the rest of the Leafs.
“I’m going to skate (Saturday) and just do as much as I can,” Brown said. “But until I get the OK to push it, I’m going to listen (to the medical experts).
“I’ve done the rehabbing and done everything the right way. Now I’m just waiting for the go-ahead.”
Brown had three injuries last season, the groin, a shoulder and a broken index finger from blocking a shot.
lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca
