Senators Article: Tapper is feeling 'sad' as season comes to end
April 14, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

Tapper is feeling 'sad' as season comes to end

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Brad Tapper has not answered his cell phone in three days. After finding out his season is over, courtesy of a second major concussion in nine weeks, he's not eager to speak with anyone, not even his parents.

"It's really sad," Tapper said Tuesday as his Binghamton Senators teammates continued to prepare for tonight's opener of their best-of-three series against the Norfolk Admirals. "Everyone's been really kind, really supportive."

Tapper, a 25-year-old right wing with blazing speed, was injured in the first period Saturday night when he took an elbow to the chin from Rochester Americans defenseman Steve Lingren. Tapper called the play "accidental," unlike the vicious elbow from Hershey Bears winger Shane Willis that resulted in his initial concussion Feb. 6.

He will stay with the Senators and assist play-by-play announcer Grady Whittenburg on radio broadcasts.

The press box is hardly where Tapper wants to be, especially during an AHL playoff tournament he had been eagerly awaiting, but he realizes his long-term health supersedes everything else.

"I'd rather be Muhammad Ali when I'm 80, not before I'm 30," Tapper said in reference to the legendary boxer.

It's been a trying season for Tapper. His best friend, former Atlanta Thrashers center Dan Snyder, died Oct. 5 from injuries sustained in a car accident days earlier. That same night, his assistant coach from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bill Cahill, suffered a fatal heart attack.

Tapper scored one goal in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves before his Jan. 6 trade to the Senators for center Daniel Corso. The deal worked wonders for Tapper's psyche, and he notched 21 points in 27 games despite missing almost a month after the first concussion.

Tapper said he intends to resume his career next season. He will be a free agent this summer and said he would like to re-sign with the Senators.

"Hopefully I'll be a Sen next year," Tapper said. "Right now, I don't want to be a distraction to the guys in the playoffs. It's just upsetting that I can't be a part of it."