WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas made his first public appearance since walking away from hockey in 2014, and fought back tears as he described the brain damage he has endured after sustaining a concussion in his final NHL season.
"I couldn't communicate with anybody for a few years," Thomas told reporters on Thursday, ahead of his induction to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. "I didn't call my dad. I didn't talk to anybody. There was a time period, yeah, where I hated the game, so to speak. I didn't sit there and [say] I hate it.