Bad news on Bartek
Published 3:59 pm Thursday, February 19, 2009
The diagnosis is in on Everett forward Daniel Bartek, and it’s the news the Tips didn’t want to hear. Bartek suffered a broken hand when blocking a shot during Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over Portland. That means Bartek is almost certainly done for the regular season, and possibly the remainder of his junior hockey career (he’s an overager). The Tips would probably have to pull off an upset in the first round of the playoffs for Bartek to get another chance.
This is just awful for Bartek. He’d only just gotten back from a month out with a foot fracture — an injury also sustained while blocking a shot — and in his fourth game back he’s out again. What rotten luck.
It’s also a major blow for the Tips. Bartek is arguably Everett’s best all-around forward. He may not be the most gifted offensively, but he still manages to contribute offensively, he’s fantastic along the boards and he’s Everett’s top penalty-killing forward. He also is one of the few Tips forwards with any size.
So the revolving door continues in that left wing slot alongside Byron Froese and Kellan Tochkin. Since Tyler Maxwell went down with his knee injury many have been tried in that spot, with Bartek being the most effective. Now it’s Dale Hunt’s turn.
