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| Nick Walters |
The Wheat Kings' defenceman was expected to undergo surgery on his hand last month and miss the first six-to-eight weeks of the season, but a second opinion determined that surgery wasn't needed at this time and Walters has been in Brandon's lineup since.
"(The doctor) and I decided for the amount of time that I'd miss and my hand wouldn't be that much better when I came back," said Walters after Thursday's practice, "Smoething I'll look into in the off-season and take it from there."
Walters good fortune is also the Wheat Kings' gain as the 19-year old provides some depth on a Brandon blueline that has shuffled players in and out of the lineup so far this season.
The latest could be Eric Roy, who was injured in the first period of Wednesday's win over Edmonton and is currently day-to-day.
Ryan Pulock made his season debut on Wednesday after spending a month with the NHL's New York Islanders while Taylor Green, Rene Hunter and Walters have all missed time with injuries already this season.
Walters new gig is partnering with Pulock, something that didn't happen at all last season after Walters was acquired from the Everett Silvertips on January 10th.
That also means he'll be seeing the opposing team's top players almost every night.
"It's a big responsbility, it's something I like to do. I did it a little bit in Everett, especially when Ryan Murray wasn't playing," said Walters, a fourth round pick of St. Louis in the 2012 NHL Draft, "I enjoy playing with (Pulock), he's easy to play with. Hopefully, maybe put up a few points but, most of all, just keep the puck out of our net."
Brandon continues their home stand this weekend by hosting the Vancouver Giants on Friday night and the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night.
Walters is hopeful that winning the first game of the home stand over Edmonton on Wednesday will generate momentum moving forward.
"It's huge when you beat a team like that, it just carries on and gets the ball rolling and it becomes a snowball affect," said Walters, "We'll just take it one game at a time, one period at a time and good things will happen."
Brandon will entertain Moose Jaw and Saskatoon next Friday and Saturday to conclude the home stand and then the club will play eight of their next nine games on the road.
Chaff...Alexander Urbom has a new address. The former Wheat Kings' defenceman was claimed on waivers by the Washington Capitals from the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Urbom was a third round pick of New Jersey in the 2009 NHL Draft and spent the past three seasons in New Jersey's organization, playing 14 NHL games and the rest with Albany of the AHL...the Winnipeg Jets signed Prince Albert defenceman Josh Morrissey to a three-year, entry level contract on Thursday. Morrissey was the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft...the Raiders acquired D MacKenzie Johnston, 20, from the Kelowna Rockets late Wednesday for a third round pick in the 2015 Bantam Draft...Regina picked up F Boston Leier, 20, from Medicine Hat on Wednesday for a second pick pick in the 2016 Bantam Draft.
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