Sacher making progress
Regina Pats goaltender Teagan Sacher has rarely been so anxious to suit up — even if it was only for practice.
After missing the past five games with a hip flexor injury, Sacher has been slowly building towards a return to the lineup. It began Tuesday when he got back on the ice for a brief skate, followed the next day by his participation in a goalie session with coach Rob Muntain.
The next step in Sacher’s recovery came Thursday when he rejoined the team for a full practice at the Brandt Centre.
“I’m making really good progress,” he said shortly before hitting the ice. “Things are feeling good. I just have to get back in game shape, get back into the rhythm. It has been two weeks of rehab and trying to get better. I want to be out there with the guys. It’s boring when you have to sit out but I’m excited to get back on the ice.”
Sacher is the first to admit that his time as a spectator was almost as painful as the injury. The timing wasn’t great either, since he was coming off a confidence-boosting performance against the Swift Current Broncos, stopping 29 of 32 shots in a 3-2 loss.
That game was a moral victory for Sacher, who struggled in the pre-season. He was slated to get the start four days later against the Edmonton Oil Kings, but came up lame after suffering a freak injury in pre-game warm-ups.
“I slid across (the crease) and it just gave out,” he said. “I was looking to build off my Swift Current performance and try to solidify that No. 1 spot. It’s one of those things that happens. You can’t really avoid it. I just have to keep battling like I was doing before and keep going for that No. 1 spot.”
Sacher, the Pats’ backup last season, has been battling with newcomer Dawson MacAuley since training camp for the right to replace graduated starter Matt Hewitt.
In Sacher’s absence, MacAuley has gone 2-4-0 with a 3.62 goals-against average, .882 save percentage and one shutout. Veteran Spencer Tremblay, brought in to serve as the backup, has seen mop-up duty in one game.
Sacher, meanwhile, has tried to stay mentally sharp.
“If I couldn’t be on the ice I might as well learn from watching the other goalies play and in practice,” he noted. “I’ve actually learned a lot. I just have to keep on learning, keep on trying to get better every day with my rehab. That’s all I can really do.”
Sacher isn’t expected to play this weekend and he said he doesn’t know exactly when he’ll be ready to return. That will be determined, in part, by how the injury responds in practice.
“I’m feeling good,” Sacher added. “Certain movements make it a little uncomfortable. It’s not going to get back to completely 100 per cent (right away) so I have to battle through it.
“Once I feel confident with the way I’m playing, that’s when I’ll get back in there.”