Incoming reinforcements

Tigers could return Quenneville, Chyzowski to Friday’s lineup

Seven weeks of aching for the game may finally reach an end Friday for Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman David Quenneville.

The 18-year-old blueliner has been recovering from a broken leg since early January, but pending approval at this morning’s re-evaluation, Quenneville might just be ready to rejoin the ranks at a very opportune time.

“It’s been a really long process but the strides I’ve taken since Day 1 have been incredible in my mind. It’s very, very exciting that the process is finally close to being finished,” said Quenneville, who has missed 21 games with the injury. “It’s feeling the best it has and that’s good. I’m confident with it, I can make plays in practice and, I think, skate at a high enough level where I don’t feel like a goof out there or where I’m not able to play my game.”

Quenneville will undergo another X-ray today to confirm if he is in fact ready to return to full duties with the team. Given that the Tigers have been juggling injuries and sickness with a recent outbreak of mumps, head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston hopes to see Quenneville on the ice when the Tabbies face off against the Calgary Hitmen Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome — but the final decision is ultimately out of his hands.

“As long as they see what they want to see then I think we’re hopeful that he’ll be cleared,” said Clouston. “We’re looking at just over seven weeks now so we’re hoping that the X-ray shows what it needs to show, then he’ll be available to us.”

Quenneville resumed skating two weeks ago. While it began as an excruciating experience, Quenneville says he’s pretty much back on pace in all areas of his game, though some were harder to regain than others. Given the area of the break — just above the ankle — Quenneville says his transition game took the most work to get back on track, but he’s finally at a point where he feels ready to start the breakout.

“That was the biggest thing for me, being able to go forwards and backwards and not have any significant pain and be able to continue to do that at a good speed, and it’s coming,” he said, adding there’s still some discomfort. “I’m still going to feel it. I’m coming off a broken leg and I think you’re going to feel that no matter what. When something doesn’t get used for a few weeks it’s just not going to be the same for a little while, especially with a broken bone.

“Lately it’s just been trying to get that ankle strength back and that muscle working again. Me and Mikki (Lanuk, athletic trainer) have been putting in a lot of hours trying to get that ankle moving again, trying to loosen up my Achilles area.”

Quenneville led the WHL in defensive scoring at the time of his injury — which came in a 6-2 loss to the Regina Pats on Jan. 3 — with 20 goals and 28 assists. While he’s fallen to eighth in the scoring race — behind leader Connor Hobbs of the Pats with 70 points, and teammate Clayton Kirichenko with 53 — Quenneville says he’s honing his slap shot in anticipation of a return.

“It’s feeling good. I’ll probably try to dial that in for the weekend,” said Quenneville. “Hopefully I can continue to get that timing down and maybe score a few goals on the weekend.”

The New York Islanders draft pick has been participating in roughly 80 percent of drills over the last few practices. Clouston says he’s seen Quenneville make great strides over the past two weeks, though it will likely take a game or two before he’s back to his usual form.

“There’s some contact and stuff that we’re avoiding until he gets the 100 per cent OK. If he gets the OK we’d like to get him a practice or two in those types of drills,” said Clouston. “It’s gotten better and better. To me, the only final step is game speed. You try to get there during practice but it’s always different. He’s going to have to get through a couple games to really get to that point where he feels good.”

It’s been a tumultuous stretch of the season for Medicine Hat, as defenceman Ty Schultz is still week-to-week with a broken leg of his own, while a handful of other Tigers have been dealing with mumps.

Much like with Quenneville, Clouston added it can be difficult to transition back to the game after being out of commission for so long.

“With all these guys that’s the challenge. We get guys back but they’ve just finished doing nothing for six days — being achy and feverish and not being able to eat very much,” he said. “There’s a process and we’ve just got to manage that.” It seems the worst is in the rearview mirror though, as assistant coach Joe Frazer and rookie Ryan Chyzowski both returned to the Canalta Centre Wednesday, and Chyzowski should be available for Friday’s game. “It’s so day-to-day. We make sure we get past the mandatory five days, which means they can be medically cleared to come back. With Joe and Ryan, they were actually just like (Zach) Fischer, available yesterday but not feeling well,” said Clouston. “As players get past the five days then it’s kind of just, if they’re feeling up to it, according to Alberta Health Services and our doctors, they’re past the contagious point and as long as they feel up to it they can get back to work.”

Fischer and John Dahlstrom returned to action Tuesday, while Jordan Henderson was initially cleared before the virus spread, forcing him back out of the lineup.

“He’s had more serious complications than the rest of the guys,” said Clouston. “I suppose it’s possible for the weekend, but I don’t think he’s practicing today and Ryan is.”

Clouston added Kristians Rubins seems to be on the home stretch, while James Hamblin is still in the early stages of the virus.

“The biggest thing is to make sure we do everything we can to be ready to go when the time is right. The timing of this is challenging, but it’s better now than a few weeks from now, for sure,” said Clouston. “Hopefully we’re rounding the corner and we can move forward.”