Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 18:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Jon Francisco doesn’t live in the past. Never has. It’s just not his style. When asked if he’s had any regrets, the Hermantown,Minn., native didn’t even have to think about it.
“I never live with regrets,” stated Francisco. “I never have and I don’t think I ever will. I really don’t think I can. What’s happened has put me in the position I’m in right now, so how can I?”
How could he? To be blunt, those who have followed Francisco’s hockey career might have a different take on things. In a game of bounces, he’s definitely seen his share.
Take the 2005-06 season for example. Francisco, playing his second stint in the AHL for the Manchester Monarchs (he played two games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL in 2003-04), dislocated his right kneecap during his very first shift of his very first game. The injury sidelined him indefinitely. So, I asked again, any regrets? The answer was still basically the same. “Not finishing my education. There’s a regret for you,” laughed Francisco.
In a time where athletes often talk about what they don’t have, Francisco refuses to play along. Instead, he constantly refers to what he does have.
“When I got injured, it was really the first time I had ever been seriously injured,” remembered Francisco. “I knew it was really bad when it happened. At first, I was disappointed but I knew there was nothing I could do to change it. I tried to make the best out of it. I asked the team if I could go down to Reading (ECHL) and rehab, that way I was with my family. My daughter had just been born so it gave me a great opportunity to spend a lot of time with her. That was great.”
With his wife Bridget and daughter Natalie by his side, the former University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog concentrated on rehab. However, the injury bug refused to go away. After working back into shape, Francisco suffered the same injury later that year, this time leading to surgery. Then the next season while playing with Reading, you guessed it, another dislocated kneecap. As the saying goes, bad things usually happened in threes.
“It was really frustrating because it wasn’t like I was hit hard or anything. All three times I got hurt, I was just skating,” mentioned Francisco. “I didn’t really know what to do at the time.”
Not knowing where to go next, Francisco once again leaned on his family and went back to work. With his rehab routine second nature by then, Francisco made his way back onto the ice in time to finish the 2007 campaign with Reading. In 36 games played, he scored seven goals and added 12 assists. At the end of that season, Francisco and his family decided his knee had been through enough. For the first time since he could remember, the following hockey season began with Francisco in street clothes.
“Health wise, we felt my knee just needed a break,” commented Francisco.
As he jokingly put it, he got a real job. Francisco spent his time away from the rink getting his appraiser and real estate licenses. As time passed, his knee began to heal to the point where he and his family once again began talking hockey. So it was only fitting that he soon received a phone call from Karl Taylor, Francisco’s former hockey coach. Taylor had just accepted the head coaching position with a brand new franchise called the Ontario (Calif.) Reign of the ECHL, and he was calling for players.
“It really is too good to be true. It was really tough to pass up,” smiled Francisco. “Coach (Taylor) called and said he got the job, said he needed a good leader to build around, and asked how’s your knee?”
Francisco got his answer right away. While working his way back into playing shape, he lost close to 30 pounds. More importantly, his right knee responded. After three months of training, Francisco opened up the 2008-09 campaign back in skates, and he’s loved every minute of it. Through six games with the Reign, Francisco has scored four goals and added four more assists.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’ve thanked (Taylor) many times. I feel like I’m back in high school. I’m having fun again. I consider myself fortunate more than anything. Here, I spend my time at the rink in the morning and then I come home and spend the rest of my day with my family. I’m very happy to be playing again. You ask anyone who doesn’t play anymore, they miss the locker room, and they miss the guys. I have fun going to the rink everyday. Guys don’t understand what it’s like to work in an office, I do. I guess I just don’t want to grow up yet.”
If it’s not broke, why fix it? Now a father of two, daughter Natalie and son Alex, Francisco is prepared to ride the wave all the way to the end. Whenever that’s going to be is anyone’s guess.
“We’ll see how the health is,” replied Francisco, when asked about his playing future. “I’d like to spend a few years out here. If an AHL contract comes out of it, great. The dream is always there, but I also know very few teams are looking for a guy like me. I still have that dream to go to that next level. I just don’t want an injury to get the best of me; I don’t want that to stop me. I want to end on my own terms.”
