Blades back to full lineup
For the first time since returning from their British Columbia road trip late last month, the Saskatoon Blades should have 18 healthy skaters for a WHL game.
Brett Stovin will play Wednesday’s home contest against the Spokane Chiefs, ending an eight-game absence with a separated shoulder .
he Blades ( 13- 13- 0- 1) played the last three games with fewer than 12 forwards.
“I feel great out there,” the right-winger after Tuesday’s practice said. “I’ve got my strength mostly back.
“I’ve been working out very hard to get ready to be back in the lineup. I’m super excited to get out there.”
Injured during a Nov. 10 loss to Seattle, Stovin was one of seven Blades to miss time in November.
Defenceman Dalton Thrower has been sidelined with a concussion suffered in a Nov. 5 practice. Although still wearing a non-contact jersey, Thrower participated in a full practice Tuesday. Thrower and head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken both said they expect a return to game action either Saturday or Sunday against Regina.
Winger Jessey Astles sustained a serious wrist injury Nov. 9 and remains out of the lineup indefinitely. Matthew Pufahl, Shane McColgan and Duncan Siemens all sat for multiple contests, while blue- liner Kyle Schmidt — injured Nov. 24 in Kelowna — is out at least another seven weeks with an upper-body injury.
Because Astles and Schmidt are the only two out with long-term ailments, the Blades are as healthy as they’re going to be.
With Wednesday commencing a seven-game, 11day stretch, the change of fortunes couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We’ve got lots of games in the schedule right now,” said Stovin, 18, who has four goals and two assists in 18 games.
“With a full lineup now, it’s going to keep the legs fresh.”
Injuries to Schmidt and Thrower forced Molleken to bring in 18-year-old defenceman Shayne Gwinner Monday from the Prince Albert Raiders for a 2014 fifth-round pick.
Gwinner had left the Raiders early in November and returned home to Drumheller, Alta., after suiting up in just nine games.
“I took two or three weeks off,” said Gwinner, who had one with the Raiders this season. “It was a little time to reflect and then get back to playing the game.”
He joined up with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragons, picking up an assist in five games.
“It’ll be a good transition for sure,” Gwinner said. “From junior A to the Dub, I know there’s a lot of difference.
“With the (Memorial) Cup coming up, there’s a lot of pressure involved. It’s extremely exciting to be a part of that.”
Gwinner will make his Blades debut Wednesday night, but Molleken hasn’t decided exactly where he’ll fit in yet.
“It’ll be an adjustment for him,” Molleken said. “He hasn’t played at this level for a while.”
BLADE BITS: Blades goaltender Andrey Makarov was officially named to Russia’s world junior selection camp roster on Monday.
Molleken said Makarov will leave the Blades on Monday and, if he makes the Russian team as he’s expected to, won’t return until Jan. 10.
Molleken plans to recall Patrick Johnson from the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs to back up Alex Moodie during Makarov’s expected 10-game absence.
Johnson is 5-6 with a 2.37 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and a shutout this season for the Mustangs. He played one period for the Blades last season, allowing two goals.
Makarov missed practice Tuesday with an illness, but Molleken said he will start Wednesday.