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Redwic
01-16-2007, 09:44 AM
Published: Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Gagnon's injury hits Thunderbirds hard

By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer

Aaron Gagnon means so much to the Seattle Thunderbirds. So it was a hammerblow when the T-birds learned they'd be without their captain for an extended period of time.

Gagnon is out indefinitely after suffering a separated shoulder during Seattle's 2-1 shootout loss to Saskatoon last Tuesday.

The 20-year-old center suffered the injury when he went awkwardly into the boards. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated when Seattle returns from its current road trip through the Western Hockey League's East Division on Jan. 18, but it's expected he will miss at least a month and maybe more.

Gagnon was having an MVP-caliber year. He was named the WHL Player of the Month for December and was tied for the league lead in points with 54 when the injury occurred. Without Gagnon, Seattle is left without a difference-making offensive player.

"Gags being out is a problem," Seattle coach Rob Sumner told the Seattle Times. "But where there are problems there are opportunities and that's how our guys have to look at it."

Gagnon's injury could play a pivotal role in how the U.S. Division shakes out. Seattle was in a virtual dead heat with Tri-City and Spokane when last week began. However, Seattle is 1-2 so far without Gagnon. Spokane now leads the race for first place by two points, and although Seattle and Tri-City are tied for third, the Americans have two games in hand.

The difference between finishing third and fourth is significant. In all likelihood, the fourth-place finisher will have to face Everett, the top-ranked team in the entire Canadian Hockey League, in the first round of the playoffs.

Everett is 5-2 against Seattle this season, though three of those victories came in shootouts. The teams play three more times this season, all before Feb. 24. Therefore it's possible the Tips won't see Gagnon again during the regular season.

Slap shots: As if losing Gagnon wasn't enough, the T-birds had last Wednesday's game at Prince Albert postponed because of a blizzard. The game was moved to this Wednesday, forcing Seattle to play five games in six nights. ... Lethbridge lost a pair of players as 20-year-old left wing Derek Werenka and 18-year-old defenseman Todd Panchyson both left the team to pursue opportunities in Tier II hockey. ... Medicine Hat sent 17-year-old defenseman Alexander Provkin back to his home in Russia because of a lack of playing time. ... Regina's Jordan Eberle became the first Pat to score 20 goals in a season since Josh Holden did it in the 1994-95 season. He and Everett's Kyle Beach are the only 20-year-olds with 20-plus goals so far this season. ... Medicine Hat left wing Chris Stevens was named the WHL Player of the Week. Stevens had two goals and four assists as the Tigers went 3-0.

League leaders: Points - Martin Hanzal (Red Deer) 60; goals - Kris Hogg (Lethbridge), Mark Derlago (Brandon) 29; assists - Hanzal 42; penalty minutes - Mike Gauthier (Prince Albert) 181; wins - Dustin Butler (Kamloops) 26; goals against average - Leland Irving (Everett) 1.57; save percentage - Irving .937.