During their 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday night, defenceman Daemon Hunt suffered a severe cut to his arm from a skate blade. The injury was bad enough that it required immediate surgery, but it’s expected there will be no long-term damage.
“Daemon is expect to make a full recovery and at this time will be out of our line-up indefinitely,” said Warriors general manager Alan Millar. “On behalf of our athletic therapist Brooke Koslofski, Daemon Hunt, his family and our entire organization, we would like to thank the Edmonton Oil Kings medical and training staff for their outstanding assistance and support.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for the 17-year-old Brandon product.
Hunt has been high on the Central Scouting Bureau radar since the beginning of the season and was most recently listed as an ‘A’ calibre prospect for the upcoming National Hockey League draft, meaning he’s projected to go in the first round this summer.
The injury is the second of its kind in the WHL in a month, after Moose Jaw product and Portland Winterhawks forward Reece Newkirk also suffered a cut to his arm that required surgery.
Injuries or no, there were still games to played, with the Warriors following the loss to Edmonton with a 5-2 loss the next night in Red Deer.
Things were close throughout against the Eastern Conference-leading Oil Kings, as Carson Latimer gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead out of the first period, but the score would hold there until Owen Hardy picked up his 10th goal of the season with 9:12 gone in the second.
The upset wouldn’t be in the cards, though, as Jake Neighbours scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:40 gone in the third. Josh Williams added an empty netter to close out scoring.
Adam Evanoff made 38 saves for the Warriors, Sebastian Cossa stopped 24 for Edmonton.
Things were just as close early in Red Deer, with goals early and late in the first period – Chris Douglas opened scoring only 58 seconds in before Hardy replied with seven second left in the frame to tie things 1-1.
Ethan Sakowich and Arshdeep Bains would score just over three minutes apart early in second to put the Rebels ahead 3-1, and Brett Davis would extend their lead to three with 2:33 to play in the frame.
Hardy pulled the Warriors back within two with 1:46 remaining in the game, but that would be as close as they’d get, as Josh Tarzwell added an empty netter with 17 seconds left in the game to close out scoring.
Evanoff had 28 saves for Moose Jaw, Byron Fancy stopped 30 for Red Deer.
The loss was the seventh straight for the Warriors as they fell to 9-14-1-0 on the season and now sit eight points back of a playoff spot with five games in hand on the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Warriors are back in action Friday when they host Red Deer and Saturday when they face Prince Albert in the Teddy Bear Toss game. Both contests will be held at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
