Petes captain Zach Gallant out for 10-12 weeks with high ankle sprain
PETES PIECES
The Peterborough Petes expect to be without captain Zach Gallant for 10 to 12 weeks after learning Friday he’ll need surgery to repair a high ankle sprain.
The Detroit Red Wings prospect had to be helped off the ice after crashing feet first into the boards in the opening minute of Thursday’s 5-4 overtime win against the Erie Otters.
The Petes were optimistic after X-rays showed Thursday night there were no broken bones. Further examination on Friday revealed a high ankle sprain where the ligament damage was severe enough to require surgery.
“It turned out to be a little more serious than we originally expected,” said Petes GM Mike Oke.
He’ll have the surgery early next week.
Oke said the club will not put the captain’s C on another player in the interim and instead will rely on their three assistant captains, overagers Austin Osmanski, Chris Paquette and Adam Timleck.
Dustin Hutton took Gallant’s spot in the lineup Friday night in Oshawa and Shawn Spearing also drew in with Jacob Partridge scratched. The Petes went with seven defencemen.
Nick Robertson remains out with a wrist injury and head coach Rob Wilson said he’s 50/ 50 to play next week. John Parker-Jones is weeks away from a return as he recovers from a broken finger.
Robertson ranked 29th
Petes sophomore forward Nick Robertson is rated 29th overall among prospects for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in rankings by Sportsnet junior hockey analyst Sam Cosentino.
Robertson has missed all but two games this season with a wrist injury. Cosentino says of Robertson, “Smallish, quick, nifty puck handler and a wicked shot have the younger brother of Dallas prospect Jason beginning to make noise with solid showings at both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the All-American Prospects game.”
Cosentino ranks Jack Hughes of the U.S. National Development Team Program as the No. 1 prospect.
Barrie Colts forward Ryan Suzuki is the top ranked OHL player at No. 14.
Petes alumni in AHL
Peterborough minor hockey grad Riley Stillman and ex-Pete Jonathan Ang started their pro hockey careers this week with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
Other Peterborough natives or Petes alumni in the AHL this year include Nikita Korostelev (Cleveland Monsters), Matt Puempel (Grand Rapids Griffins), Chris Breen (Providence Bruins), Eric Cornel (Rochester Americans), Alan Quine (Stockton Heat), Trevor Murphy (Tucson Roadrunners) and a quartet of Syracuse Crunch players Dominik Masin, Matt Spencer, Mitchell Stephens and Jonne Tammela.
Hayton makes a splash
Peterborough native Barrett Hayton made a splash in his first game back with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Wednesday.
Hayton had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over the Flint Firebirds after being returned to the OHL by the Arizona Coyotes.
NHL debut for Baker
Petes alumnus Tyson Baker made his NHL debut on Tuesday as a linesman when the Ottawa Senators hosted the Philadelphia Flyers.
Baker made the jump to the NHL after just one season working in the OHL last season as a linesman. Baker played three games for the Petes between 2012 and 2014. The 23-year-old is a native of St. Mary’s, Ont.