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Ex-B’s enforcer Robins: ‘I should have said something and sat out’ after suffering concussion in NHL debut

Boston Bruins Vs. Philadelphia Flyers At TD Garden

Boston Bruins Vs. Philadelphia Flyers At TD Garden

Boston Globe via Getty Images

Pretty telling story this week in the Providence Journal about Bobby Robins, the journeyman tough guy who surprised many by making the Bruins lineup out of training camp this fall.

Robins, who appeared in three games for Boston at the start of the year, says he was concussed in his NHL debut -- a 2-1 win over Philly-- during which he fought Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn.

“After that first game, looking back, obviously I should have said something and sat out, but I would have literally played through anything at that point,” Robins told the Journal. “I was almost in denial, thinking it would go away, and it never did.

“I’m pretty sure it happened in the fight with Schenn. I kind of felt like I got my bell rung or got dinged in the head — in my line of work it happens more often than not. That’s just kind of how I felt. I got right on the plane (after the game) and went to Detroit thinking it would go away in the morning, like it always had. Then that morning when I woke up in Detroit, it was still there. I was like, oh man, but I would have played right to the death.”

The fight in question:

Robins, 33, appeared in one more game after the Detroit tilt -- a 4-0 loss to Washington in which he fought again, this time against Michael Latta -- and was demoted to AHL Providence shortly thereafter. He hasn’t played a game since facing Worcester on Oct. 18 due to post-concussion symptoms, and doesn’t expect to return to the ice anytime soon.

“It’s feeling very slowed down,” he explained. “It’s confusion, headaches. I’m having a hard time focusing and concentrating on much of anything.

“It’s been a rough one for sure.”