Post by Declan on Aug 25, 2009 8:39:51 GMT -5
Brenden Morrow has the distinction of being the first comeback story of the season.
The Dallas Stars captain hit the ice yesterday at the Olympic orientation camp, his first real high-level skate since suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last November.
The injury required surgery and cost him the final 64 games of the NHL season.
"Everyone, thank God, is coming off a summer and haven't been going at it for four months, so we're kinda all in the same boat," he said.
While Morrow is making his return, Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf arrived for the camp but won't take to the ice having undergone sports hernia surgery late last month.
He battled through pain in the playoffs, and summer workouts aggravated the problem. It was decided he'd have surgery in July so he'd be ready for the season.
"I'll probably (start skating) after this camp," Getzlaf said. "I'll get back on the ice a little bit by myself, get the flow."
The Ducks star expects to be back to 100% in time for the regular season.
"I think we're going to try and play the last two exhibition games. That's what we're looking at right now," Getzlaf said. "Things have been going really well, so there's no reason to think otherwise."
Both players are unquestionably in the mix for Canada's Olympic squad. Getzlaf could be a third-line centre, while Morrow is a textbook energy winger.
For Morrow, this camp is a first chance to show his knee is as strong as possible, although he said he'd have been able to play had the Stars gone on a playoff run.
"I don't know if (this camp is) going to help me make the team, but I haven't competed with people at this level," Morrow said. "We've been playing shinny in Dallas with teenagers, but this is something I haven't done for eight months and had this kind of competition."
www.calgarysun.com/sports/vancouver2010/2009/08/25/10595901-sun.html