Tammela shut down for rest of Petes season
The Peterborough Petes can forget about Jonne Tammela playing for them this season. Petes GM Mike Oke said the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect suffered a setback this week in his recovery from January knee surgery. Damage to Tammela’s patella tendon limited him to two games with the Petes this season. He had surgery in Syracuse by a doctor affiliated with the Lightning’s AHL farm team the Syracuse Crunch. He’s remained in Syracuse for rehabilitation. “Jonne had a setback during the rehab process,” Oke said. “After further evaluation on their end his recovery will be longer than anticipated. He won’t be ready to return to play this season.” The Petes selected Tammela in the first-round of the 2015 CHL Import Draft. He did not come over last season due to commitments to a pro team in Finland. He signed with Tampa Bay last year who assigned him to the Petes in the fall after his injury was diagnosed as patella tendinitis at Lightning camp. He followed a rehab program before playing two games in November, scoring one goal, before being shut down again. “He’s a good player who would be a top forward in our league,” Oke said. “It’s unfortunate the way things have unfolded. Things happen unexpectedly and it’s disappointing.” “Everyone is disappointed including Jonne. This is a good year of his development which he has now missed,” Oke said. “Most importantly for him is to get back to 100 per cent health so he can resume his hockey career.” Tammela would be an overage player if he was returned to junior next season. The Petes can put him on a protected list and make a new selection in the 2017 import draft, Oke saod. “If he’s made available to us, it’s something we’d be excited about. That’s a decision that would be made by the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Oke said.