Injury concerns for Vees as training camp draws near
After losing more than 200 man games to injury last season, the Penticton Vees have another one to worry about with training camp just five days away.
New captain Massimo Rizzo sustained an upper-body injury during off-season training and Vees GM/head coach Fred Harbinson said the first-line centre will probably miss training camp and the four pre-season games.
“We’re in a wait-andsee mode right now,” said Harbinson.
“It looks like a similar thing to what Massimo went through last season. But he’s going to physio, it looks like it’s progressing really well and right now the goal is to hopefully have him back for Sept. 7 (the Vees’ regular-season opener in Langley).”
The injury kept Rizzo from attending the Canadian under-18 team tryout camp in Calgary for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup international tournament in Edmonton. Canada ended up winning the gold medal with a 6-2 win over Sweden this past Saturday.
“Obviously that was tough for Massimo to miss out on such a high-profile competition, especially with this being his (NHL) draft year,” said Harbinson.
The Burnaby native did play for Team Canada Black at the World Under-17 Championship in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek last year, scoring a goal and four points in five games. Rizzo is committed to play for the University of North Dakota for either 2019 or 2020.
Rizzo finished his rookie season in the BCHL with 13 goals and 39 points in 50 games. In the playoffs, Rizzo found another gear by scoring four times and assisting on six other goals in 11 games as the Vees fell to Trail in seven games in the second round.
The Vees will also be without another key top-six forward as Cassidy Bowes continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery.
The 19-year-old from Kelowna will miss the first month of the regular season.
“The rehab is coming along really well,” said Harbinson.
Bowes had 16 goals and 33 points in 49 regular-season games and had an assist in three playoff games before going down with the shoulder injury.
Harbinson said everyone else will be ready to go when camp opens on Monday. The Vees play their first pre-season game, an all-rookie affair, Wed., Aug. 22 in West Kelowna.
He said Bowes will be placed on injured reserve enabling the Vees to add one more player to the roster in the interim.
“Other guys are going to have the opportunity to step up,” said Harbinson.
The Vees play their first home pre-season game Aug. 29 against West Kelowna.