Hurting Giants on the mend
Two players return
Vancouver Giants coach Don Hay was in a jovial mood Thursday and not necessarily because it was just one more sleep until ‘ Don Hay Bobblehead Night.’
“Not many people get a bobblehead night so I’m pretty excited about that,” winked Hay as he relaxed in his office at the team’s Ladner training facility. “I’ve already had a lot of requests for them so somebody must like ’ em. It’s an honour.”
Hay was more excited about the fact he’ll have two injured forwards back in his lineup tonight when the Giants entertain the Everett Silvertips at Pacific Coliseum. Hay’s skaters have lost three straight, the last two without six players. Young forwards Matt Bellerive ( concussion) and Jackson Houck ( knee) are cleared to play against the Silvertips.
Remaining out for at least the next three games are captain and leading scorer Brendan Gallagher, No. 1 goalie Adam Morrison and shutdown defenceman David Musil. Energy forward Dalton Sward, who was still wearing a sling Thursday on his right shoulder, appears to be longer term.
Although Hay refused to confirm the exact injuries – he maintains they are all ‘ upperbody’ – it’s believed Gallagher has a shoulder problem, Musil a wrist problem and Morrison a concussion, or at the very least concussion- like symptoms.
“I think we’re going to get maybe two of them back by next Wednesday for the Red Deer game,” Hay said, again refusing to name which two. “Hopefully on Monday we’ll get good news on them from the doctors.”
With Morrison out, the goaltending duties have fallen to 16- year- old rookie Jackson Whistle. Statistically, it appears Whistle is in over his head with a 1- 7- 0 record, 4.19 goals against average and .826 save percentage. However, the Giants have no one else in their bullpen, other than 15- year- old midget call- up Payton Lee.
So it’s Whistle’s gig and he insisted Thursday he hasn’t been discouraged by the lack of results. “It’s something you try not to worry about,” he said. “You just focus in practice and get ready for [ tonight’s] game. I think I can deal with the pressure but, obviously, there is a little pressure because you want to win every game you can. Things have gone good, they’ve gone rough, but I think it’s getting better every day.” Hay has one solution. “Our players in front of him have to play better,” said the coach. “Jackson is a 16- year- old and we have to continue being patient with him.”
Bellerive, meanwhile, will be slotted into Gallagher’s rightwing spot on the first line with centre Jordan Martinook and Marek Tvrdon. He’s had a hardluck season with two shoulder injuries and then the concussion, the latter injury suffered in practice. He’s missed 18 games and has just three goals.
“I’m feeling 100 per cent and looking forward to the challenge,” said Bellerive.