Russian Super Series [Archive]

puckmam

12-04-2007, 06:23 AM

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106809&Itemid=564

Great news -- Tyrell’s knee is fine (0)
(Sports) Monday, 03 December 2007, 21:43 PST
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
Injury news doesn't get any better than this.

Prince George Cougars winger Dana Tyrell, who hurt his knee in Sunday's 6-2 loss in Calgary, avoided major damage to the hinge.

That means Tyrell will be ready to go when the national junior team camp opens Monday in Calgary. He found out after Sunday's game he was on the Team Canada invitation list, with the 37-player roster unveiled officially on Monday.

"The doctor said with some rest and some ice, I should be 110 per cent," said Tyrell, an 18-year-old fireplug who relies on his speed and low centre of gravity to play an aggressive forecheck game.

"It happened on the power play, I drove to the net and I just fell. I must've tripped over my own feet or something, because I didn't make contact with anyone."

Cougars defenceman Ty Wishart, a signed San Jose Sharks first-round draft choice who played with Tyrell in this summer's Canada-Russia Super Series, will also be in Calgary to fight for a place at the world junior hockey championship. Neither player rated a final camp invitation last winter.

Tyrell saw Team Canada specialist Dr. Auld in Calgary on Monday. Basically, his kneecap moved out of place on the play, but is back in position with no ligament damage. Getting a few days off may actually help Tyrell be at his best for the selection camp.

"It was scary at first, but it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise," said Tyrell.

Tyrell has 14 goals and 19 assists, a team-high 33 points, in 29 games, and the numbers put him in the top 20 for WHL scoring. The Airdrie, Alta., native was taken in the second round of the NHL draft this past summer by the Tampa Bay Lightning and, with the trading of defenceman Chris Vanduynhoven last week, Tyrell is the only Cougars draft pick from the class of 2004 still with the team. Ryan Kerr, Vanduynhoven and Prab Rai are with other clubs.

Tyrell, who passed the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus in his career earlier this season, plans to return to Prince George on Thursday and hopes to play at home Saturday against Prince Albert. Tyrell and Wishart leave the next day for Calgary.

Tyrell's good news had his coach doing cartwheels.

"He's going to be fine, we dodged a bullet there, that's for sure," said Drew Schoneck.

Tyrell feels good about his chances going into camp. Many key forwards, such as Jonathan Toews, Milan Lucic and Sam Gagner, are in the NHL and that should open up spots for players like Tyrell.

"I have to go in and have a good camp, but I'm confident," said Tyrell.

n The Cougars reached Chilliwack on Monday, where they'll meet the Bruins tonight to close out a hellish stretch of schedule that has seen them play 18 of 25 games away from home. Even Sunday's trip from Calgary to their planned overnight stop in Salmon Arm hit a roadblock -- literally -- as they endured nearly three hours of stop time east of Golden. The Cougars take a two-game losing streak into the game.

n Jesse Dudas is walking without the aid of crutches, and general manager Dallas Thompson listed the 19-year-old defenceman as "probable" for tonight's game. The oft-injured Dudas took a shot off his skate on Saturday in a 3-1 loss in Red Deer.

n Thompson said Monday that three of the team's prized 15-year-old prospects will join the club next week and stay with the team until the Christmas break. Forwards Brett Connolly, Nick Buonassisi and Bruin McDonald will see game action in one of the three dates prior to the holiday.

Thompson said he plans to announce shortly that six players from the most recent bantam draft have signed education agreements with the team.