EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips will have to learn how to play without their captain for a while.
Ryan Murray, the team’s star defenseman, is expected to miss approximately five weeks after suffering a sprained ankle during Wednesday’s 8-2 home loss to Brandon.
Murray suffered the injury less than four minutes into the game. He was hit hard into the boards and immediately skated to the bench and headed down the tunnel to the locker room. He did not return.
“He got hit, got his skate caught in a rut and just rolled on it,” Everett coach Mark Ferner said.
Murray had the injury checked out Thursday and no further damage was revealed. But the injury means the 18-year-old Murray, who’s expected to be a top-10 selection in next year’s NHL draft, won’t available either for this weekend’s games or for Everett’s upcoming road trip through the WHL’s Central Division.
“It’s a big loss,” Ferner said. “Whenever you lose one of your top players it’s a loss. He logs a lot of minutes for us. But it’s a great opportunity for some other guys to be put in situations they might not have before. We’ll see what kind of character this group has. You can’t replace Ryan Murray, but teams deal with injuries and we’re going to deal with this one.”
Everett received better news about its other injured players from Wednesday’s game.
Leading scorer Josh Birkholz, who left the game in the third period because of back issues, practiced Thursday and should be able to go this weekend.
Key forward Ryan Harrison, who limped off the ice after blocking a shot during the second period and did not return, did not practice Thursday. However, Ferner said Harrison may be available for tonight’s home game against Seattle.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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