It has almost been two years since Hishon has been able to play hockey due to a concussion he sustained at the Memorial Cup Tournament.
Hishon was drafted in the first round of the 2010 Entry Draft. During the 2010 season Hishon only managed to play in 36 games due to sustaining a broken foot. In those 36 games he had 40 points. Colorado surprised many by picking him in the first round. During the 2011 season he played in 50 games and had 87 points.
Hishon was injured when he received an elbow to the head by Brayden McNabb in May 2011. Since then he has struggled with post-concussion symptoms. Last summer, he reported via Twitter that he had begun doing off-work outs after receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the suggestion of Andy McDonald of the St. Louis Blues. He got back onto the ice at the end of 2012 and began skating with the team in a non-contact jersey in early 2013. Jeff Adlesberg of Bordy's Hooligans spoke with Hishon about ten days again, and Joey indicated he would be "playing in about two weeks." Jeff says that the center looks good, albeit a little rusty, and that his speed and stickhandling are as impressive as ever.
It remains to be seen if Hishon will be as effective at the professional level as was expected before his injury. Regardless, he's playing hockey again, and that's all that really matters. It has been a long road to recovery for Hishon. Here's to hoping it will be a story he can tell at his NHL retirement ceremony twenty years from now.