Goalie Fotinos returns to the ice
Johnson to sit out after hurting knee
Windsor Spitfires goalie Alex Fotinos was back on the ice at practice for the first time since being injured Oct. 27.
The 18-year-old Fotinos, who had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher and taken to hospital in Owen Sound after Attack forward Kyle Hope knocked him into the back of the Windsor net early in the game, has little memory of the event.
“I remember bits and pieces, but nothing really,” Fotinos said. “I don’t remember being (knocked) out on the ice. I remember a little of the ambulance ride and being at the hospital.
“I’ve seen parts of it on video, but the doctor says I might never remember what happened.”
He suffered a concussion on the play as well as a strained neck.
Hope was handed a major penalty for goaltender interference and a game misconduct, but incurred no further punishment from the Ontario Hockey League.
To date, Fotinos said he has not heard from Hope or received an apology.
“From the video, it looked like he could have done a better job of getting out the way, but who knows really,” the six- foot- one, 174- pound Fotinos said. “It was going pretty fast.”
Acquired Oct. 18 from the Barrie Colts for a seventhround pick in 2015, the former second-round pick is 3-0 with the Spitfires with a 2.78 goalsagainst average and .890 save percentage.
“My concussion symptoms are gone, but the doctor said I might have to deal with the neck (stiffness) for a while,” Fotinos said.
He’ll likely miss tonight’s game in Plymouth against the Whalers and Sunday’s home game against the London Knights, but hopes to be back next week.
“It’s just my first practice,” Fotinos said Friday. “We’ll see what happens.”
Johnson out
Alex Fotinos isn’t the only Spitfire expected to miss today’s Plymouth game and Sunday’s game with London.
Third-year left winger Ben Johnson left Thursday’s game in the opening period after tweaking his knee.
“DiGi (Cristiano DiGiacinto) chipped the puck in and I went after it,” the 19-year-old Johnson said. “I went to make the hit and (the opponent) moved and I caught the glass with my shoulder, but my knee kind of turned.”
He was walking with a noticeable limp Friday and did not practice, but did not need crutches to get around. The New Jersey Devils prospect has eight goals and 14 points in 15 games this season.