Bruce Hamilton has seen the injury bug grab hold of 害羞草研究所� teams of the past.
But the sheer numbers and nature of the injuries in 2017-18 has been more disconcerting than usual for the Western Hockey League club害羞草研究所檚 president and GM.
害羞草研究所淵ou expect bumps and bruises but you don害羞草研究所檛 expect as many of the types of injuries as we害羞草研究所檙e getting,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had a broken leg come into play, a broken hand, and other strange things happening, like with our goaltending.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 getting frustrating, we haven害羞草研究所檛 really had a full lineup since early in the year,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所渟o hopefully we can get through this stretch, get some guys back and get healthy before the playoffs.害羞草研究所�
With a handful of Rockets already sidelined, forward Kole Lind was the latest victim after taking an open-ice hit from Victoria Royals害羞草研究所� defenceman Ralph Jarratt during the second period of Wednesday害羞草研究所檚 game at Prospera Place.
After laying on the ice for several minutes, Lind, a 31-goal scorer this season, had to be helped off by a pair of Rockets害羞草研究所� teammates.
On Tuesday, Hamilton said he expected the Rockets to be without the Vancouver Canucks害羞草研究所� draft pick on a week-to-week basis.
害羞草研究所淚t was a dangerous hit,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of the check from Jarratt. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l wait to see what the league decides about it.害羞草研究所�
Also on Wednesday, rookie goaltender James Porter left the game in the third period after being landed on by Royals害羞草研究所� forward Igor Grishakov.
Porter had just returned to the lineup last Friday after being sidelined since Jan. 13 with an upper body injury.
Porter, Brodan Salmond and rookie Roman Basran have all served time on the injury list this season.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been bizarre,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of the Rockets害羞草研究所� injury troubles in goal, 害羞草研究所渘othing like I害羞草研究所檝e seen.害羞草研究所�
On the upside, Hamilton said Liam Kindree (lower body) is close to returning, while defenceman James Hilsendager continues to make progress from an upper body injury suffered Jan. 30 against Medicine Hat.
If all goes as planned, Nolan Foote (hand, 4 to 5 weeks) will be pronounced ready to return before the post season.
But for now, with half of the busiest month of the season still to go, Hamilton said it害羞草研究所檚 all hands on deck.
害羞草研究所淭he guys that have been playing through this have got to keep it going,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淲hen we害羞草研究所檙e healthy, we害羞草研究所檝e got four guys sitting out, but right now we害羞草研究所檙e using pretty much everybody.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e found ways to win,害羞草研究所� he said, 害羞草研究所渘ow going into a real stretch here,we害羞草研究所檙e going to have to find ways to keep doing that.害羞草研究所�
The Rockets (34-17-2-1) who edged Victoria 5-4 Wednesday in Kelowna, lead the Royals by one point atop the BC Division.
RELATED: Rockets edge Royals to regain top spot in B.C. Division
On Wednesday night, the Rockets will host the Red Deer Rebels. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
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