The Lethbridge Hurricanes are hoping to get healthy before playoffs with their top two centremen returning to the ice in the next couple of weeks.
Giorgio Estephan and Justin Gutierrez have been out of the lineup for weeks but are working hard for a quick return.
Estephan, who is suffering from a lower body injury, has been been on the ice participating in light skating drills.
Gutierrez, is day to day with an upper body injury, and has yet to be back on the ice.
The two centremen have missed a total of 29 games.
Captain Tyler Wong said it’s been a huge loss, but is still confident with the current lineup.
“They have put up really good seasons, they are obviously leaders on this team and we do miss them, but I think with or without them in the line up we still have the talent to be a top tier team in this league.”
With injuries comes opportunity, something Wong feels strongly about.
“It gives the other guys a chance to step up, our younger guys and even some of the older guys need to fill a bigger role and take on that responsibility,” Wong said.
Head coach Brent Kisio is staying positive with the current situation and even thinks the injuries to Estephan and Gutierrez may benefit the team somewhere down the road.
“It’s not a bad thing for us to face that adversity, we’ve had to move guys into the centre spot and if that happens in the playoffs, we’ve been there, done that,” he said.
The Hurricanes have already clinched a playoff spot due to their hard work all season.
According to Kisio, it’s important not to rush them back and is confident his two centremen will be healthy in time for the first round of the playoffs.
“We are definitely not trying to rush them back and we are making sure we follow the right process and if anything be a little more cautious to make sure they are ready for playoffs.”
With just under 10 games to go, the Hurricanes are in hunt for first place overall in the WHL standings.
Coach Kisio is confident in this group and believes they can achieve that goal with or without a healthy lineup.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are headed back to the WHL playoffs for the first time since 2009.
The team will be looking to become WHL champions and have the opportunity to participate in the Memorial Cup for the first time since the 1996-97 season where they were runners up to the Hull Olympics.
