Canada’s Junior Team Suffers Blow With Two Eligible Player Injuries

The outlook for Canada’s Junior team suffered a big blow this week with two injuries to eligible prospects; defenceman Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers and Saint John Sea Dogs centre Jonathan Huberdeau.

Defenceman Ryan Murphy was run over Friday by Niagara’s Tom Kuhnhackl and suffered a concussion. The hit was so ugly the Ontario Hockey League slapped Kuhnhackl with a 20-game suspension.

Murphy, the 12th overall pick in last June’s NHL entry draft by Carolina, was able to skate off on his own but, with concussions, the recovery period is always an unknown (think Sidney Crosby).

The next night, centre Jonathan Huberdeau broke his foot in a Quebec League game. X-rays on Monday revealed a fracture and it’s estimated he’ll be out for at least a month.

Huberdeau went third overall to Florida last June and was off to a tremendous start in the QMJHL with 28 points in 13 games. He should be healed by the time the world junior tourney begins Boxing Day but, as Team Canada coach Don Hay noted, who knows what kind of form he’ll be in by then