One of the league’s brightest young stars can’t seem get himself out of first gear.
Prince George forward Brett Connolly, who could be the first WHL player selected in next June’s NHL draft, is sidelined yet again because of a right hip-flexor injury that has dogged him all season long.
The latest episode took place during Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Kamloops.
“It’s the same side and the other side is kind of tweaked too,” Connolly told the Prince George Citizen. “It happened slowly as the game progressed. It wasn’t a particular play, it just started to get worse.”
This is the third time in five months the injury has flared up for the 17-year-old, who was being counted on to lead a Prince George team lacking in talent. Connolly originally suffered the injury while playing for Canada at the under-18 world championships in August. Then he reaggravated it during training camp, keeping him out the entire preseason.
He recovered in time for the start of the season before reinjuring himself after seven games. He sat out another 15 contests before coming back again. This time he was back for just five games before being forced out again.
“I just kind of got back into the swing of things and was starting to play some pretty good hockey coming back,” Connolly told the Citizen. “It sucks that it’s coming back and we’ve got to look after it. I’ve obviously had some bad luck this year. It’s definitely frustrating sitting out and not being able to help out your teammates.
“I think it’s time to go see a specialist or something like that.”
How important is Connolly to Prince George’s lineup? He’s easily the Cougars’ top offensive threat, having tallied 30 goals and 30 assists last season en route to being named the league’s Rookie of the Year. Prince George, which has the league’s worst record, won three times in Connolly’s 12 games. The Cougars won just twice in the other 17. In his 12 games Connolly has seven goals and six assists, putting him just one goal off the team lead despite the missed time..
The injury threatens to keep Connolly out when the Cougars travel to Everett on Friday.
“I don’t think it’s as bad this time,” Connolly told the Citizen, suggesting he might be able to return by Friday. “I think that it’s not going to affect me as much as it did before.”
Around the WHL
Seattle added to its defensive corps, acquiring 18-year-old Erik Bonsor from Calgary in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. … Swift Current made some changes at goaltender, acquiring 19-year-old Mark Friesen from Chilliwack for a third-round pick in 2010, then reassigning 18-year-old Alexandre Sirard. … Ten WHL players were invited to Canada’s selection camp for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships. They include forwards Jordan Eberle (Regina), Scott Glennie (Brandon), Brayden Schenn (Brandon), Brandon Kozun (Calgary), Brandon McMillan (Kelowna) and Cody Eakin (Swift Current); defensemen Colten Teubert (Regina), Travis Hamonic (Moose Jaw) and Jared Cowen (Spokane); and goaltender Martin Jones (Calgary). … Tri-City’s Johnny Lazo was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 20-year-old forward had back-to-back hat tricks as Americans went 2-0. … Spokane goaltender James Reid was named the WHL Player of the Month for November. The 19-year-old went 10-0-1-0 with a 1.09 goals against average and .964 save percentage.
League leaders
Points — Brandon Kozun (Calgary) 61; goals — Jordan Eberle (Regina) 28; assists — Kozun 43; penalty minutes — Curt Gogol (Kelowna) 99; wins — Drew Owsley (Tri-City) 20; goals against average — James Reid (Spokane) 2.12; save percentage — Reid .925.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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