Skeoch looks forward to recovery
Rehabilitating injured ankle taking longer than expected after ‘setback’ last month
Even over the phone, the disappointment in Darian Skeoch’s voice is apparent. “It’s been extremely frustrating,” said the Vancouver Giants defenceman, who has been sidelined since Dec. 3 with an ankle sprain and is now at home in Calgary rehabbing the injury. “It’s just been one of those nagging injuries and it’s been really frustrating to sit on the sidelines. And it certainly does not help that we aren’t doing as well as we want to be doing.”
Skeoch, 19, came to the Giants from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a Sept. 12 Western Hockey League trade for 19-year-old disgruntled blue-liner Brennan Menell. Vancouver also received a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick in the deal.
Menell started slowly with Lethbridge but found his game, and going into Friday’s action he’s fifth in the league in scoring among defenceman, with 52 points, including 11 goals, in 55 games.
Still, Giants fans will tell you they like the deal. If you were picking Vancouver’s most valuable player at the 30-game mark it would have undoubtedly been Skeoch (pronounced Ski-o). The 6-4, 220-pound right-handed shot brought a poise and presence to a Vancouver defensive zone that could be helter-skelter all too often when he was in the lineup and has been even more chaotic without him.
Skeoch leads Vancouver with a plus-four rating. Bailey Dhaliwal, a defenceman who’s at plus-one, is the only other Giant with 20 or more games on the positive side of the ledger.
Skeoch also has one goal and nine assists in 27 games. He had one goal and six assists, to go with a plus-seven rating, in his 59 games as a rookie last season with Lethbridge.
“Vancouver gave me a chance. I think I adapted well,” said Skeoch.
If there’s any sort of positive out of the situation for the Giants it’s that Skeoch is likely to be back next season as an over-age due to missing so much action. He received a freeagent look from the Anaheim Ducks this fall after his lesser 2015-16 campaign with the Hurricanes.
Another campaign with Vancouver would give Skeoch a chance to prove to NHL clubs that he’s a steady, stay-at-home type capable of making a good first pass out of his zone.
He doesn’t want to be cast as a minor-league tough guy. Skeoch was second in the WHL in fighting majors in 2015-16 with 14. He’s had three in his abbreviated stint with the Giants. That said, if he got an offer to play in the minors it would have to be tempting.
“I’m extremely happy in Vancouver. It’s an unreal place to play, and I haven’t had more fun playing hockey,” he said.
He hasn’t ruled out playing again this season, although he admits that it’s now about “risk versus reward.” He says that he’s feeling much better the past couple of weeks.
The Giants (18-35-2-3) have 14 games remaining, starting with the Kamloops Blazers’ visit tonight to the Langley Events Centre. The Red Deer Rebels visit the LEC on Saturday.
Vancouver’s unlikely to make the playoffs, so a Skeoch return this season has to be considered highly doubtful. Skeoch was injured in practice. He says he was battling for position in front of the net with Alec Baer when he felt something odd with his ankle.
“I don’t even know today what exactly happened. The coaches think I may have stepped on a puck,” admitted Skeoch.
The Giants were pledging a Skeoch return last month, but general manager Glen Hanlon admitted Skeoch had suffered a “setback.”
“I just pushed it too hard to come back,” Skeoch said.