By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders remain “unlucky” with injuries to top line centres

Mar 9, 2016 | 4:09 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders thought they would finally be back to full strength for the first time in 30 games, but after Tuesday’s defeat they may be back to square one.

Jordan Tkatch, who filled in for the injured Austin Glover on the Raiders top forward line, may be missing time after getting checked from behind by Red Deer Rebels defenceman Haydn Fleury in Tuesday’s game.

Tkatch needed 21 stitches to repair the cuts to his face as a result of the collision.

Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt confirmed that Tkatch has an “upper body injury” and is listed as “day-to-day.” Tkatch is also expected to miss Wednesday night’s contest against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

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“That’s hockey. We’ve been fairly lucky (with injuries), but it’s the timing,” Hunt said on Tkatch getting injured during the same the day Glover returned. “It’s one of those things you say, ‘wow, that’s kind of unlucky.’”

Tkatch was checked from behind by Fleury in an incident which warranted a major penalty and game misconduct on the play. Tkatch blocked Fleury’s point shot and then was sprung on a breakaway.

Fleury, who broke his stick on the shot, furiously pursued Tkatch from behind. As he didn’t have a stick, Fleury couldn’t play the puck and decided to shove Tkatch from behind, causing Tkatch to immediately lose his balance. Tkatch then slid heavily into Rebels goaltender Trevor Martin and the net itself, and all three went hard into the end boards. It also appeared that Tkatch’s head hit the post during the collision.

Hunt chose to remain tight-lipped about whether or not Fleury should receive further discipline from the league, after receiving a major penalty and game misconduct.

“Anything with a major, the league will review,” Hunt said. “Until we’ve heard from the league, then we won’t comment.”

With Tkatch out for at least the near future, that could force Glover back up to the top line between Reid Gardiner and Simon Stransky where he started the year.

In Glover’s first game back, he started the game between Layne Bensmiller and Kolten Olynek, with whom he played together with the Saskatoon Contacts. After Tkatch left the game, Glover was put back up to the top line.

“I know for the coaching staff, if anything it allows them to put Gloves back where he was, in the spot he was comfortable in,” Hunt said. “I know he didn’t start there last night but maybe we’ll get him back to game shape a little bit quicker and have better predictability with his linemates.”

The Raiders will then start a home-and-home series against the Swift Current Broncos on Friday and Saturday, with the home leg on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre.

The regular season will come to an end next week, as the Raiders will take on the Moose Jaw Warriors on the road March 16, before a home-and-home series against the Saskatoon Blades on March 18-19.

Stick tap to Lance Doucet of the Raiders for supplying the video.  

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea