Progress positive for Canes' Williams

The Hurricanes forward has not played a full game for the team since last December

RALEIGH -- Justin Williams jumps out of his truck and comes bounding into the Athletic Performance Center in North Raleigh, his cap on backward, bearing a smile and eager to work.

To be sure, this is not where Williams wants to be on a November afternoon. Earlier in the day, he was skating at the RBC Center, stickhandling and shooting the puck. It's a game day, with the Carolina Hurricanes to face the Montreal Canadiens.

But Williams has not played a full game for the Canes since last December. The forward missed 43 games last season with a knee injury and the last two games with a back problem.

Then, just a few days before the Canes' training camp began in September, Williams tore his right Achilles tendon. Once again, he faced major surgery, more intense rehabilitation, more time away from the team.

"At the start, there were some tears," he said.

For athletes, a devastating injury is akin to a death in the family in that there is the sadness, then the anger, then acceptance and the will to move on. So it has been for Williams, who appears ahead of schedule with his recovery.

"Having two major surgeries within the calendar year puts a toll on you physically but really mentally even more so," he said. "Having to go through a long rehab process, getting back and healthy and then having to go through it all over again is tough. ... You get the carpet swept out from beneath you.

"You don't want to be regarded as a guy who gets hurt often. When I come back, whenever that may be, I need to get myself back healthy and able to help the team. And stay healthy."

The recovery time initially was set at four to six months, meaning a possible February return for Williams, one of the Canes' top forwards. But things have gone so smoothly that he may be able to move it up a month or so.

Williams is quick to praise the work of Dr. Marty Isbell and physical therapist Jaime Holt at the APC, a state-of-the-art facility used by 18 Canes players -- as well as baseball slugger Josh Hamilton -- for offseason conditioning.

Isbell, a team physician, handled the Achilles surgery -- as well as Williams' knee surgery -- and Williams said he has been available at all hours when needed.

"The day after surgery I texted him at 4:30 in the morning to ask to take another pain pill," Williams said. "A few minutes later, he texted back 'OK, but just one.' And that was at 4:30."

Williams suffered the Achilles injury on a shuttle run at the APC and can point to exact spot -- a hash-mark on the artificial turf -- where it occurred.

"It's like a suicide drill in basketball," he said. "I stopped to go one way and I heard a pop and I was on the ground and I didn't know what it was. It turned out to be the worst."

Williams said he took his first step a week after surgery. And he had no hesitation in returning to the APC, bad memories or not. Once again, he was putting in two-hour rehab workouts.

"As much as I like the people who work there, I don't want to see them much," Williams quipped.

When Williams was recovering from his anterior cruciate ligament injury, he had Rod Brind'Amour -- who also suffered an ACL injury last season -- as a workout partner at the APC. This time, he's on his own.

Holt said a typical session includes a stationary bike warmup, manual resistance ankle strengthening and exercises to help Williams restore his balance. There's also upper- and lower-body and core strengthening, and cardio conditioning.

"Justin and I have become good friends through all his rehab," Holt said. "It was devastating to see him tear his Achilles tendon. He has responded very well and we are excited about his return, whenever that may be."

Williams first put the skates on last week and began some individual work with Canes assistant coach Tom Rowe. On Monday, he briefly joined the team practice and even jumped on a line with Brandon Sutter and Patrick Eaves for a few moments.

"For him missing a lot of games at the end of last year, and then coming into camp and really excited to play, then to be knocked down again, he was not very happy," Canes coach Peter Laviolette said. "For him to be back in that situation where he's at least on the ice and has the equipment on and feeling the sweat coming off, that's a real good thing. He's really positive about it."

On Tuesday morning, Williams grinned as he put away his equipment in the locker room. The locker with "Williams" above it hasn't been used this season.

"Once you get back in the room with the guys and can actually see your name up here and skate ... that's what gives you a little more motivation to get back," he said.

"It's getting better every day. I want to get back as fast as I can but as safely as I can, too."