One year later, Charlie Gamache ‘just feels normal again’

One year after surgery, Charlie Gamache is celebrating the start of his UMass Dartmouth career. (Mike Valeri/The Standard Times)

Over a year after taking a wicked hit that led to a frightening discovery, Charlie Gamache is enjoying things being back to normal.

In fact, the former Dartmouth (Mass.) High School standout and current University of Massachusetts Dartmouth goalie barely missed a beat from his senior season to matriculating to college and a new level of play -- despite finding that he’d had a hole in his heart since birth.

“The hit was a blessing in disguise, of course,” noted Gamache, who was caught off-guard in a game versus Apponequet when he decided to push up on the play before turning and ran directly into an opponent’s check.