lordstanley
03-19-2010, 09:23 AM
Zahn may be back in Blades' lineup Saturday
Cory Wolfe, of The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, March 19, 2010
Pssst. Here's a little secret about the Saskatoon Blades' team photo.
Yes, that's defenceman Teigan Zahn in the front row, but that's not his right leg.
When that photo was taken nearly six weeks ago, Zahn was still wearing a protective boot on his right foot. He couldn't put any weight on his surgically repaired fibula, so his teammates carried him to centre ice, propped him up and told him to say cheese.
Blades staffer Michael Scissons took over from there.
Let's be clear: Scissons has no medical credentials. But through some computer editing, he performed a successful transplant. He copied the right leg of Blades captain Derek Hulak, beefed it up a little, and overlaid it on Zahn's injured limb.
The result is impressive. Just one suspicious bit of evidence remains -- the right skates of Hulak and Zahn look exactly the same.
Zahn chuckled while inspecting the photo Thursday. His recovery is well ahead of schedule and he might even play Saturday when the Blades open playoffs against the visiting Red Deer Rebels (7:05 p.m., Credit Union Centre).
"It's up to (coach) Lorne (Molleken) and what he wants to do," Zahn said with a smile. "It's not really my call. I feel pretty good about it but, like I said, it's up to him and what he wants to do."
Zahn fractured his right leg during a Jan. 13 game against the Calgary Hitmen. At the time, team officials described his injury as "season-ending." His projected recovery time was three to five months -- mid-April at best; mid-June at worst.
But barely two months into his recovery, Zahn is on the verge of playing again.
"From what the original prognosis was, it's quite a bit ahead of schedule," said the 19-year-old Bethune product. "I'm surprised by what I'm able to do already but it's in the coach's hands."
Zahn's accelerated recovery isn't the only promising news for the Blades. Defenceman Jyri Niemi missed the last eight regular-season games because of a broken finger but he'll be in the lineup Saturday. Winger Curtis Hamilton is also close to being game-ready. He's recovering from a broken collarbone for the second time this season.
"Both Zahn and Hamilton have been cleared to practise," said Molleken. "It looks like they'll both be game-day decisions. We'll have to see how things go. But Teigan is way, way ahead of schedule, and Curtis is right on time. It's just a matter getting them both feeling comfortable with the situation."
Both players are more metallic than they used to be. Surgeons used 10 screws and a plate to stabilize Zahn's broken leg. Hamilton's fractured clavicle was also repaired with screws -- something doctors didn't use when he first broke it in November.
"I know that they're excited about playing and it's playoff time," added Molleken. "It's a race to four (wins) and we want to put ourselves in the best possible position to succeed. That might be playing those guys or it might be sitting those guys.
"We won't know until Saturday."
Cory Wolfe, of The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, March 19, 2010
Pssst. Here's a little secret about the Saskatoon Blades' team photo.
Yes, that's defenceman Teigan Zahn in the front row, but that's not his right leg.
When that photo was taken nearly six weeks ago, Zahn was still wearing a protective boot on his right foot. He couldn't put any weight on his surgically repaired fibula, so his teammates carried him to centre ice, propped him up and told him to say cheese.
Blades staffer Michael Scissons took over from there.
Let's be clear: Scissons has no medical credentials. But through some computer editing, he performed a successful transplant. He copied the right leg of Blades captain Derek Hulak, beefed it up a little, and overlaid it on Zahn's injured limb.
The result is impressive. Just one suspicious bit of evidence remains -- the right skates of Hulak and Zahn look exactly the same.
Zahn chuckled while inspecting the photo Thursday. His recovery is well ahead of schedule and he might even play Saturday when the Blades open playoffs against the visiting Red Deer Rebels (7:05 p.m., Credit Union Centre).
"It's up to (coach) Lorne (Molleken) and what he wants to do," Zahn said with a smile. "It's not really my call. I feel pretty good about it but, like I said, it's up to him and what he wants to do."
Zahn fractured his right leg during a Jan. 13 game against the Calgary Hitmen. At the time, team officials described his injury as "season-ending." His projected recovery time was three to five months -- mid-April at best; mid-June at worst.
But barely two months into his recovery, Zahn is on the verge of playing again.
"From what the original prognosis was, it's quite a bit ahead of schedule," said the 19-year-old Bethune product. "I'm surprised by what I'm able to do already but it's in the coach's hands."
Zahn's accelerated recovery isn't the only promising news for the Blades. Defenceman Jyri Niemi missed the last eight regular-season games because of a broken finger but he'll be in the lineup Saturday. Winger Curtis Hamilton is also close to being game-ready. He's recovering from a broken collarbone for the second time this season.
"Both Zahn and Hamilton have been cleared to practise," said Molleken. "It looks like they'll both be game-day decisions. We'll have to see how things go. But Teigan is way, way ahead of schedule, and Curtis is right on time. It's just a matter getting them both feeling comfortable with the situation."
Both players are more metallic than they used to be. Surgeons used 10 screws and a plate to stabilize Zahn's broken leg. Hamilton's fractured clavicle was also repaired with screws -- something doctors didn't use when he first broke it in November.
"I know that they're excited about playing and it's playoff time," added Molleken. "It's a race to four (wins) and we want to put ourselves in the best possible position to succeed. That might be playing those guys or it might be sitting those guys.
"We won't know until Saturday."