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View Full Version : Topilko set to return



Triton
01-05-2006, 04:07 PM
The Wheat Kings hope to have veteran right-winger Jeff Topilko back in the lineup on Friday night when they kick off a busy three game in 3-night Western Hockey League weekend against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Keystone Centre.

The 19-year old Vegreville, Alberta product has been sidelined since mid October after breaking his leg during a game against the Calgary Hitmen on October 15th.

A former first round bantam draft choice of the Wheat Kings, Topilko had one goal and two points in 11 games prior to October's injury.

"It's completely like you're starting from scratch again," Topilko recently told Wheat Kings' play-by-play announcer Bruce Luebke of 880 CKLQ. "We're in a run here for the last playoff spot and we have to do everything we can to get that and hopefully, I can help out with that."

Topilko may not be the only Wheat King set to rejoin the lineup. Veteran Derek LeBlanc is currently listed as day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury during the Christmas break. Meanwhile Tyler Strautman (shoulder) remains questionable.

Also set to return are 16-year old rookies Matt Hallick and Keith Aulie. Both players recently competed in the World Under 17 Challenge in Regina for Teams Pacific and Western respectively. That tournament concluded Wednesday night with Team Quebec defeating the United States 5-2 in the gold medal final.

Two of the hottest Wheat Kings entering the weekend, which will include stops in Prince Albert on Saturday and Saskatoon Sunday night, are center Codey Burki and left-winger Mark Derlago. Both shared the team lead in scoring last month with nine points. Burki was named the club's December recipient of the Tip Top Tailors Player of the Month award while Derlago takes a 3-game point scoring streak into Friday's tilt with the 'Canes. During those three games, the former Manitoba AAA Midget League scoring champion has four goals and 5 points.