In the shootout to close practice today, on the first attempt on him, Christopher Gibson took a shot off the neck. Stayed down for a bit. Got some attention. Got up. Stopped the next 12 shots, too. No big deal. (Ended up losing, though, when the shooters got hot and things got chaotic after Pat Cullity hit both posts, leading to a little confusion.)
David Quenneville joined them on the ice for the first time. He said he felt a little rusty after his first practice in over a week. But he got his feet moving. He fired off at least one eye-opening snipe during one drill.
It’s that sad/happy time for guys like him; season ended a little earlier than he wanted in junior, but it’s on to his first taste of pro hockey. “Brandon had a really good team,” he said. “We just couldn’t get it done. (Then), signing, I’m excited.”
As for when he’ll play, “we’ll go day to day with him,” Brent Thompson said. Don’t want to put him in a tough spot, “but we definitely want to get him the opportunity to see the pace, what’s in store for him the following year.”
Thompson said the injury Connor Jones suffered Sunday isn’t serious, but it’s enough to keep him out the last week here. Scott Eansor practiced today, as did Parker Wotherspoon; they’re certainly not going to rush anything, but it sounds as if they’re at least possible for the last weekend.
They had 14 forwards and 10 defensemen on, plus the two goalies, after sending Eamon McAdam, Jeff Kubiak and Ryan MacKinnon down yesterday. Worcester needed to have 19 eligible and present guys for the playoff roster they submitted yesterday. They’ve also listed Kellen Jones, Josh Holmstrom and Cullity as playoff-eligible, though still up with Bridgeport. (The injured Chris Langkow is also on the list, on reserve.)
Hershey won’t have Tyler Lewington on Saturday; he was suspended for his 11th fight of the season.
Manitoba’s Pascal Vincent was named coach of the year yesterday. The Eddie Shore Award comes out at 3; based on the all-star teams, it’ll either be Binghamton’s Jacob MacDonald or Manitoba’s Sami Niku. Edit: Niku won it.
Ex-Sacred Heart and onetime Sound Tigers forward Justin Danforth was the ECHL’s rookie of the year.
And RIP, Chuck McCann.