Sparks back at practice with Marlies

Garret Sparks was back on the Ricoh Coliseum ice on Tuesday morning skating with his teammates, but his return to the Toronto Marlies lineup remains uncertain.

The Marlies sent Sparks home following its 3-1 loss in Albany, N.Y., last Tuesday. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said the 23-year-old goaltender was punished for team policy reasons.

Sparks, who is active on social media, reportedly used inappropriate language on a Facebook group that he helps administrate.

“He’s back with the team, (but) he’s not with the main group,” Keefe said ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. “We’ve been balancing a number of goalies since we started really. He’s with the not (playing) group, skating working out — all that kind of stuff.”

Keefe added he’s waiting for management to clear Sparks to return to game action. After Tuesday’s contest, the Marlies play three games in three nights, beginning in Rochester on Friday.

Sparks, who was not made available to the media on Tuesday, is 3-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

Veteran forward Brooks Laich, as an active social media user, he had advice for his young teammate.

“I don’t think emotions should ever get involved on social media,” Laich said. “I think that’s where things can go wrong. Sometimes it’s hard to turn the other cheek. I wouldn’t say that everybody that uses social media is using it properly or for the right (purpose).”