Former Everett Silvertips captain Cody Thoring remains confined to a hospital bed because of a hit suffered last Friday. However, Thoring’s injuries are not as serious as originally feared.

Thoring, now a member of the Moose Jaw Warriors, suffered the injury early in last Friday’s 5-2 home loss to Tri-City, when he was hit into the boards by Aaron Boogaard. Thoring had to be taken from the ice on a stretcher. He will miss the remainder of the season, thus ending his WHL career.

“He got hurt on the first shift of the first period,” Warriors interim coach Rene Lemire said via phone from Moose Jaw. “He went in to pinch, kept the puck in, then tried to sneak by Boogaard by opening up his hips a little. Boogaard followed through with a solid hit and what it did was really wrench his back.”

Originally it was feared Thoring may have suffered broken bones, either in his back or pelvis. But Lemire said Thoring avoided any breaks. Thoring is expected to be held at the hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan, for a couple more days before returning home to Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

“Nothing’s broken, it’s just a very serious low-body injury,” Lemire said. “There was some cartilage movement and a couple discs may have moved, so it’s very painful and they want to keep him stable for four-to-five weeks.

“But he will recover 100 percent and will be able to continue with his hockey career in the fall.”

The 21-year-old defenseman spent three-plus seasons with the Silvertips, registering six goals and 35 assists in 193 games, and was the last member of the inaugural 2003-04 team to play for Everett. He began the season as Everett’s captain before being traded to Moose Jaw in December along with right wing Brady Calla for defenseman Jesse Zetariuk and right wing Carter Smith.

Scouting report: Tonight is the last of 10 meetings between Everett (52-12-1-2) and Portland (16-48-1-1) this season. The Tips are 7-2 against the Winter Hawks this season, including a perfect 4-0 in Portland.

Tonight is the first meeting since the infamous game-ending incident last Friday in Everett, in which Portland players clashed with fans behind the bench after the Winter Hawks’ 5-2 victory. Portland had four players suspended from the game and Everett was fined. Defenseman Scott Gabriel remains suspended, but forwards Frazer McLaren and Matt Schmermund and defenseman Stefan Langwieder have completed their suspensions.

Portland’s victory last Friday snapped a nine-game losing streak, and the Winter Hawks lost all three of their games since, being outscored 10-1. Portland’s top line of 19-year-old right wing Nick Hotson (17 goals, 18 assists), 17-year-old center Colton Sceviour (eight goals, 25 assists) and 19-year-old left wing Frazer McLaren (18 goals, 12 assists) gave the Tips fits in the last meeting, but the Winter Hawks have little else.

In goal, 17-year-old Kurtis Mucha (16-38-1-1, 3.88 goals against average, .883 save percentage) has borne the brunt of a rebuilding season in Portland.

Slap shots: Everett is expected to get one of its injured bodies back tonight. Gutierrez, Everett’s leading goal scorer who’s missed the past five games with a head injury, skated at full speed in Thursday’s practice and will probably be back in the lineup tonight. However, forwards Jesse Smyke (head), Brennan Sonne (spleen) and defenseman Taylor Ellington (neck) remain sidelined. … Defenseman Tyler Hlookoff, whose season is over with Quesnel of the British Columbia Hockey League, has returned to Everett for the remainder of the season. … The dates and times of the first two games of the playoffs have been set. Everett opens at home against its still-to-be-determined opponent, with Game 1 at 7:35 p.m. on March 23 and Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. on March 24. Single-game tickets go on sale Monday.

Nick Patterson, Herald Writer